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AEA Documents Over 200 Actions the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans Have Taken to Unleash Our Energy Potential

August 7, 2025 by Leave a Comment

WASHINGTON DC (8/7/25) –  Since taking office on January 20, 2025, President Trump, alongside congressional Republicans, has spearheaded a transformative agenda to secure American energy abundance, reduce costs for consumers, and bolster economic growth. Together, they have taken over 200 actions to unleash our energy potential.

AEA President Thomas Pyle issued the following statement

“In just 200 days, the Trump administration, in partnership with the Republican-led Congress, has surpassed the energy policy achievements of previous administrations, delivering unprecedented progress toward American energy prosperity. With over 200 actions taken to advance an energy-first agenda, the administration has made it clear that the United States is putting an end to the failed policies of the past. The passage of the historic Big Beautiful Bill, combined with efforts to eliminate barriers to energy production, marks a bold and dynamic start to a presidency dedicated to securing our energy future for the benefit of all Americans.”

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200 Actions the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans Have Taken to Unleash Our Energy Potential

August 7, 2025 by Leave a Comment

President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans ran on a plan for American energy: make it easier to produce and more affordable to purchase. Since President Trump took office, his administration and congressional allies have taken over 200 actions to unleash America’s energy potential. A list of those actions appears below.

January 20, 2025 

  1. President Donald J. Trump had a whirlwind first day in office on January 20, signing some 200 executive orders, many redirecting federal policies on energy, such as: Executive order declaring a national energy emergency.
  2. Executive order revoking and rescinding the U.S. International Climate Finance Plan.
  3. Executive order pausing government agencies and departments from issuing new rules until a department head approves.
  4. Executive order reviewing agency activities that burden the production of U.S. energy.
  5. Executive order allowing drilling and reversing restrictions placed by the Federal Government on Alaskan energy production.
  6. Executive order resuming the processing of export permit applications for new liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects.
  7. An offshore wind moratorium and a 60-day stop of new wind and solar permits on federal lands.
  8. Withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and revoking any financial commitments under the UNFCCC.
  9. Rescinded previous executive actions, including: Executive Order 13990 of January 20, 2021 (Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis).
  10. Executive Order 14013 of February 4, 2021 (Rebuilding and Enhancing Programs To Resettle Refugees and Planning for the Impact of Climate Change on Migration).
  11. Executive Order 14027 of May 7, 2021 (Establishment of the Climate Change Support Office).
  12. Executive Order 14057 of December 8, 2021 (Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability).
  13. Executive Order 14082 of September 12, 2022 (Implementation of the Energy and Infrastructure Provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022).
  14. The Presidential Memorandum of March 13, 2023 (Withdrawal of Certain Areas off the United States Arctic Coast of the Outer Continental Shelf from Oil or Gas Leasing).
  15. The Presidential Memorandum of January 3, 2025 (Designation of Officials of the Council on Environmental Quality to Act as Chairman).
  16. The Presidential Memorandum of January 6, 2025 (Withdrawal of Certain Areas of the United States Outer Continental Shelf from Oil or Natural Gas Leasing).

January 31, 2025

  1. The Bureau of Land Management issued leases effective Feb. 1 for 17 oil and gas parcels totaling 6,259 acres in the Farmington and Rio Puerco field offices in New Mexico.

February 3, 2025

  1. Announced an attempt to open up federal lands and waters to production, including in ANWR.

February 7, 2025

  1. The House passed H.R. 26, the Protecting American Energy Production Act, which prohibits the President from banning hydraulic fracturing unless Congress authorizes a moratorium.

February 14, 2025

  1. Announced the creation of the National Energy Dominance Council.
  2. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced the issuance of the Texas Gulflink LLC (TGL) Record of Decision (ROD) to Sentinel Midstream, LLC, which will own, construct, and operate a deepwater port for the export of domestically produced crude oil.
  3. Secretary Wright issues first LNG export approval since Biden-era freeze for Commonwealth LNG.

February 25, 2025

  1. The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) removes the regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) from the Code of Federal Regulations.

February 26, 2025

  1. The House of Representatives and the Senate voted to overturn a Biden-era rule imposing progressively higher fees on oil and natural gas companies for excess methane emissions, advancing the bill to President Trump for his signature.

February 28, 2025

  1. The Department of Energy announced an order that removes barriers for the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as marine fuel to power vessels. The order issued by DOE modifies a prior order issued to JAX LNG under the previous administration that asserted new oversight for the use of LNG to power marine vessels, also known as LNG bunkering.

March 5, 2025

  1. U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright approved an LNG export permit extension for Golden Pass LNG Terminal LLC, currently under construction in Sabine Pass, Texas.
  2. The Bureau of Land Management approved the Nevada North Lithium Exploration Project near Montello in Elko County. With this approval, Surge Battery Metals USA, Inc., is authorized to conduct lithium mineral exploration activities through phased exploration over the course of three years. The plan proposes disturbance of up to 250 total acres across 7,819 acres of public lands.

March 6, 2025

  1. The House of Representatives and the Senate passed S.J. Res. 11 to repeal Biden’s BOEM rule requiring archeological reports for oil and gas exploration or development plans on the OCS. (Signed by President Trump on March 13, 2025.)

March 10, 2025

  1. U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright approved a liquefied natural gas export permit extension for Delfin LNG LLC, granting additional time to commence exports from the project proposed for offshore Louisiana.

March 12, 2025

  1. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the agency will undertake 31 historic actions in the greatest and most consequential day of deregulation in U.S. history, to advance President Trump’s Day One executive orders and Power the Great American Comeback including: Reconsideration of regulations on power plants (Clean Power Plan 2.0).
  2. EPA reconsideration of regulations throttling the oil and gas industry (OOOO b/c).
  3. EPA reconsideration of the mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program that imposed significant costs on the American energy supply (GHG Reporting Program). 
  4. EPA reconsideration of limitations, guidelines and standards (ELG) for the Steam Electric Power Generating Industry to ensure low-cost electricity while protecting water resources (Steam Electric ELG). 
  5. EPA reconsideration of wastewater regulations for oil and gas development to help unleash American energy (Oil and Gas ELG). 
  6. EPA reconsideration of the Biden-Harris administration’s Risk Management Program rule that made America’s oil and natural gas refineries and chemical facilities less safe (Risk Management Program Rule). 
  7. EPA reconsideration of light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty vehicle regulations that provided the foundation for the Biden-Harris electric vehicle mandate (Car GHG Rules). 
  8. EPA reconsideration of the 2009 Endangerment Finding and regulations and actions that rely on that Finding (Endangerment Finding). 
  9. EPA reconsideration of the technology transition rule that forces companies to use certain technologies that increase costs on food at grocery stores and semiconductor manufacturing (Technology Transition Rule). 
  10. EPA reconsideration of Particulate Matter National Ambient Air Quality Standards that shut down opportunities for American manufacturing and small businesses (PM 2.5 NAAQS). 
  11. EPA reconsideration of multiple National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for American energy and manufacturing sectors (NESHAPs). 
  12. EPA is restructuring the Regional Haze Program, which threatens the supply of affordable energy for American families (Regional Haze). 
  13. Overhauling the Biden-Harris administration’s “Social Cost of Carbon.” 
  14. Redirecting enforcement resources to EPA’s core mission to relieve the economy of unnecessary bureaucratic burdens that drive up costs for American consumers (Enforcement Discretion). 
  15. EPA is terminating Biden’s Environmental Justice and DEI arms of the agency (EJ/DEI). 
  16. EPA is ending the so-called “Good Neighbor Plan,” which the Biden-Harris Administration used to expand federal rules to more states and sectors beyond the program’s traditional focus and led to the rejection of nearly all State Implementation Plans. 
  17. EPA is working with states and tribes to resolve the massive backlog of State Implementation Plans and Tribal Implementation Plans that the Biden-Harris administration refused to resolve (SIPs/TIPs). 
  18. The EPA is reconstituting the Science Advisory Board and Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (SAB/CASAC). 
  19. The EPA is prioritizing the coal ash program to expedite state permit reviews and update coal ash regulations (CCR Rule). 

March 13, 2025

  1. The Department of the Interior announced the approval of a federal mining plan modification by the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement for the Spring Creek Mine in Big Horn County, Montana, operated by the Navajo Transitional Energy Company. This decision extends the mine’s operational life by 16 years, enabling the production of approximately 39.9 million tons of federal coal and supporting 280 full-time jobs. 

March 19, 2025

  1. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright approved a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export authorization to the Venture Global CP2 LNG export project proposed for Cameron Parish, Louisiana. This action reflects another step in the Trump administration’s commitment to restoring American energy dominance.
  2. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced the department has rescinded two memoranda issued during the Biden administration, which injected a social justice and environmental agenda into decisions for critical infrastructure projects. These Biden-era policies had no basis in statute and worked to raise the costs of new energy infrastructure projects regulated by the Department of Transportation.

March 20, 2025

  1. Executive Order taking immediate measures to increase American mineral production. The United States possesses vast mineral resources that can create jobs, fuel prosperity, and significantly reduce our reliance on foreign nations.  Transportation, infrastructure, defense capabilities, and the next generation of technology rely upon a secure, 

predictable, and affordable supply of minerals.

  1. Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum is taking immediate steps to unleash Alaska’s untapped natural resource potential through Secretary’s Order 3422, which reopens up to 82% of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska available to leasing and expanding energy development opportunities in the approximately 23-million-acre reserve.
  2. Reinstating a program that makes the entire 1.56-million-acre Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge available for oil and gas leasing. This program would fulfill Congress’s intent in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and advance American Energy Dominance, while maintaining strong protections for important surface resources and uses in the Coastal Plain.
  3. Revoking withdrawals along the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Corridor and Dalton Highway north of the Yukon River in order to convey these lands to the State of Alaska. This action would help pave the way forward for the proposed Ambler Road and the Alaska Liquified Natural Gas Pipeline project, two projects that stand to increase job opportunities and encourage Alaska’s economic growth.

March 28, 2025 

  1. The Trump administration axed funding for two clean energy projects and signaled that hundreds more may face cuts. Grants like these incentivize companies to compete over federal dollars rather than in the marketplace.

March 24, 2025 

  1. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright announced the Department of Energy has further postponed the implementation of three of the Biden-Harris administration’s restrictive mandates on home appliances. These actions mark a key step in lowering costs, enhancing performance, and expanding options for American consumers.

April 1, 2025 

  1. The Department of Energy announced the removal of additional regulatory barriers standing in the way of unleashing U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports. DOE has rescinded a Biden-era policy statement that required authorized LNG exporters to meet stringent criteria before the agency would consider a request to extend a commencement date for an approved project. This policy statement added unnecessary red tape to the extensive LNG export permitting process and made it more difficult for operators of approved projects to obtain necessary extensions.

 April 7, 2025

  1. The Bureau of Land Management approved a new natural gas pipeline in Humboldt County, Nevada.

April 8, 2025 

  1. President Trump signed an executive order focused on “Reinvigorating America’s Beautiful Clean Coal Industry and Amending Executive Order 14241. 
  2. Executive order requiring the National Energy Dominance Council to designate coal as a mineral as defined in section 2 of Executive Order 14241.
  3. Executive order demanding that the Secretaries of the Interior, Agriculture, and Energy submit a report to President Trump identifying coal resources and reserves on federal lands, assessing impediments to mining, and proposing policies to address such impediments.
  4. Executive order lifting barriers to coal mining on federal lands by requiring the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture to prioritize coal leasing on federal lands and expedite leasing by utilizing emergency authorities.
  5. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to end the Jewell Moratorium by ordering the publication of a notice in the Federal Register.
  6. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to process royalty rate reduction applications from federal coal lessees in as expeditious a manner as permitted.

April 9, 2025

  1. The Department of Energy issued a Request for Information seeking public input on process improvements relating to energy conservation standards and test procedures for consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment.

April 10, 2025

  1. The Department of the Interior will no longer require the Bureau of Land Management to prepare an environmental impact statement for approximately 3,244 oil and gas leases in seven Western states.

April 11, 2025

  1. The Bureau of Land Management announced the approval of expanded infrastructure supporting increased oil and gas production on public lands. With this approval, Chipeta Processing LLC can construct a buried 16-inch natural gas pipeline, a six-inch liquids pipeline, and a fiber optic line 3,320 feet from the planned Green River Slug Catcher Facility to the existing Chipeta Processing Plant.
  2. The Bureau of Land Management announced an additional oil and gas lease sale scheduled for June 12, 2025, to offer 66 oil and gas parcels totaling 70,415 acres in Wyoming.

April 17, 2025

  1. 54. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers published a notice declaring that they will expedite the Environmental Impact Statement review process for a project to relocate the Line 5 pipeline in Michigan to a concrete-lined tunnel.

April 18, 2025

  1. In support of President Donald J. Trump’s directive to accelerate domestic critical mineral production, the Department of the Interior is taking steps to streamline permitting processes and improve federal accountability by working with the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council to add critical minerals infrastructure projects to the FAST-41 program.
  2. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management initiates the first step in a robust public engagement process to develop a new schedule for offshore oil and gas lease sales on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.
  3. The Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (Permitting Council) announced increased transparency and accountability for the federal permitting of two Department of Energy (DOE) critical minerals projects. The projects — Michigan Potash and the South West Arkansas Project — are part of the first wave of critical minerals projects added to the Permitting Dashboard in response to President Trump’s Executive Order, Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production
  4. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy delivered on his promise to slash an unlawful environmental rule, known as the GHG Measurement Rule,  that would raise project costs and divert critical resources away from highway construction to irrelevant emissions targets. The overturned greenhouse gas emission (GHG) rule would have required state transportation departments to measure and establish declining targets for carbon dioxide emissions on federally supported highways.
  5. The Bureau of Land Management takes an important step toward future oil and gas leasing and development within the Marietta Unit of Wayne National Forest in southeastern Ohio. A supplemental environmental assessment recently released supports the restart of development on 65 existing leases and new competitive oil and gas leasing of parcels within 40,000 acres of federal mineral estate underlying National Forest System lands in Monroe, Noble, and Washington counties.

April 23, 2025

  1. The Department of the Interior implements emergency permitting procedures to accelerate the development of domestic energy resources and critical minerals.

April 24, 2025

  1. At a London energy summit, Acting Assistant Secretary Tommy Joyce slammed global climate policies, claiming they limit energy access and bolster China’s influence.
  2. The Department of the Interior announced a critical policy advancement that will boost offshore oil output in the Gulf of America. The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement implemented new parameters for Downhole Commingling in the Paleogene (Wilcox) reservoirs, expanding the allowable pressure differential from 200 psi to 1500 psi.
  3. The Department of State eliminated the Office of Global Change, which oversaw international climate change negotiations.

April 25, 2025

  1. The Department of the Interior announced new permitting procedures for domestic energy and mineral production to reduce permitting timelines that currently take several years to a maximum of 28 days.

April 28, 2025

  1. The Bureau of Land Management approved a right-of-way for the Park Mountain Pipeline in Uintah County. Utah Gas Corp can construct a 3.5-mile, 12-inch buried pipeline to transport Uintah Basin natural gas to markets in the West.

May 2, 2025

  1. The Department of Energy announced the withdrawal of the determination of miscellaneous gas products as a covered consumer product under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. This action is yet another step toward President Trump’s pledge to lower costs for the American people by expanding choice and cutting red tape.

May 5, 2025

  1. The Department of Energy announced it has delayed the compliance date for new provisions regarding Clean Energy for New Federal Buildings and Major Renovations of Federal Buildings (CER). This action delays the restrictive standards imposed by the previous administration to limit the use of affordable, reliable energy sources, such as coal and natural gas, to power federal buildings in favor of less reliable, more expensive options.

May 12, 2025 

  1. The Department of Energy slashes 47 burdensome and costly regulations, delivering the first milestone in America’s biggest deregulatory effort. These include:
  2. Rescinding Requirements for Exempt External Power Supplies Under the EPS Service Parts Act of 2014
  3. Streamlining Administrative Procedures with Respect to the Import and Export of Natural Gas
  4. Streamlining Application for Presidential Permit Authorizing the Construction, Connection, Operation, and Maintenance of Facilities for Transmission of Electric Energy at International Boundaries
  5. Rescinding Collection of Information Under the Energy Supply and Environmental Coordination Act of 1974
  6. Streamlining Applications for Authorization to Transmit Electric Energy to a Foreign Country
  7. Rescinding the Production Incentives for Cellulosic Biofuels
  8. Rescinding Reporting Requirements, Certification, Independent Verification, and DOE Review for Voluntary Greenhouse Gas Reporting
  9. Rescinding the Renewable Energy Production Incentive  
  10. Streamlining the Procedures for Acquisition of Petroleum for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve
  11. Rescinding Energy Conservation Standards for Automatic Commercial Ice Makers
  12. Rescinding Energy Conservation Standards for Commercial Prerinse Spray Valves
  13. Rescinding the Energy Conservation Standards for Microwave Ovens
  14. Rescinding the Water Use Standards for Faucets
  15. Rescinding Energy Conservation Standards for External Power Supplies
  16. Rescinding in Part the Amended Energy Conservation Standards for Dehumidifiers
  17. Rescinding the Amended Design Requirements for Conventional Cooking Tops
  18. Rescinding the Amended Design Requirements for Conventional Ovens
  19. Rescinding the Amended Water Conservation Standards for Commercial Clothes Washers
  20. Rescinding the Amended Water Use Standards for Residential Clothes Washers
  21. Rescinding the Amended Water Use Standards for Residential Dishwashers
  22. Rescinding the Efficiency Standards for Battery Chargers
  23. Rescinding the Efficiency Standards for Compact Residential Clothes Washers
  24. Rescinding Floodplains and Wetlands Environmental Review Requirements
  25. Rescinding Obsolete Transfer of Proceedings Regulations
  26. Withdrawing Air Cleaners as a Covered Consumer Product
  27. Withdrawing Compressors as a Covered Equipment
  28. Withdrawing Miscellaneous Refrigeration Products as a Covered Consumer Product
  29. Withdrawing Portable Air Conditioners as a Covered Consumer Product
  30. Withdrawal of Fans and Blowers as Covered Equipment
  31. Rescinding Test Procedures for Small Electric Motors
  32. Rescinding Test Procedures for Commercial Warm Air Furnaces
  33. Request for Information on Lowering the Efficiency Standards for Furnace Fans
  34. Notice Rescinding 10 Unlawful and Burdensome Guidance documents
  35. Rescinding the Definition of Showerhead to Unleash Better Shower Pressure
  36. Withdrawing Portable Electric Spas as a Covered Product
  37. Withdrawing Miscellaneous Gas Products as a Covered Product
  38. Delaying Compliance Date for Federal Agencies to Meet the Clean Energy Federal Building Rule
  39. The Department of the Interior announced the expedited permitting review of a major energy project—the Velvet-Wood mine in Utah. As part of a strategic response to the national energy emergency declared by President Donald J. Trump. The expedited review is expected to significantly contribute to meeting urgent energy demands.

May 13, 2025

  1. The Department of the Interior announced a Bureau of Land Management policy update designed to expedite the oil and gas leasing process on public lands. Through a newly issued Instruction Memorandum, “Oil and Gas Leasing – Land Use Planning and Lease Parcel Reviews,” the BLM is committing to faster lease parcel reviews by aiming to complete the entire process within six months.

May 14, 2025

  1. The Department of the Interior announced the proposed rescission of a rule governing solar and wind energy development on public lands. The proposed rescission of the Bureau of Land Management’s clean energy regulation marks a significant policy shift, aimed at removing what officials describe as federal overreach and opening the door to expanded land use and energy independence. The move would eliminate rate reductions that biased renewable energy development over other energy sources..

May 19, 2025

  1. The Department of Energy released its Response to Comments on the 2024 LNG Export Study, marking a critical step toward returning to regular order on liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports. With this action, DOE has completed the final hurdles left over from the Biden administration’s reckless pause on LNG export permits, paving the way for the Trump Administration to fully unleash American LNG exports.

May 20, 2025

  1. The Department of Energy announced it is initiating the process to evaluate a potential mineral lease sale in the waters offshore American Samoa. This marks the first such action by Interior in over 30 years and could pave the way for future extraction of critical minerals from the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.

May 21, 2025

  1. The Department of the Interior announced the release of a new U.S. Geological Survey assessment identifying significant undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources in the Mowry Composite Total Petroleum System. Spanning parts of Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah, the assessment estimates the presence of 473 million barrels of oil and 27 trillion cubic feet of natural gas—resources that could help bolster domestic energy supply and fuel local economies.

May 22, 2025

  1. The Department of Energy removed barriers for the American hydrogen industry by updating its 45VH2-GREET modeling tool. The latest version of 45VH2 GREET employs a more flexible method for calculating methane loss from hydrogen supply chains.

May 22, 2025

  1. The Department of Energy removed barriers for the American hydrogen industry by updating its 45VH2-GREET modeling tool. The latest version of 45VH2 GREET employs a more flexible method for calculating methane loss from hydrogen supply chains.

May 23, 2025

  1. The Department of Energy formally designated coal used in the production of steel as a critical material under the Energy Act of 2020, in accordance with President Trump’s Executive Order “Reinvigorating America’s Beautiful Clean Coal Industry.”
  2. President Trump signed an Executive Order for the restructuring of the NRC to streamline permit approval and to cut out needless bureaucracy.
  3. President Trump signed an Executive Order for the fast-tracked deployment of advanced nuclear reactor technologies for national security-related critical infrastructure.
  4. President Trump signed an Executive Order to expedite and promote to the fullest possible extent the production and operation of nuclear energy to provide affordable, reliable, safe, and secure energy to the American people, to power advanced nuclear reactor technologies.
  5. President Trump signed an Executive Order to reform nuclear reactor testing at the Department of Energy to allow for a more streamlined process and greater innovation.
  6. The U.S. Department of the Interior greenlit the Velvet-Wood uranium and vanadium mine in San Juan County, Utah—marking the nation’s first project approved under a newly accelerated 14-day environmental review process, initiated in response to the national energy emergency declared by President Donald J. Trump.

May 29, 2025

  1. The Department of Energy approved a final authorization for liquefied natural gas exports to non-free trade agreement countries from Port Arthur LNG Phase II in Jefferson County, Texas. This is the first final LNG export approval under President Trump’s leadership and marks another step in restoring regular order to LNG export permitting–reversing the previous administration’s pause and delivering on the President’s pledge to unleash American energy.

June 3, 2025

  1. The Department of the Interior today announced the formal rescission of 18 obsolete or redundant Bureau of Land Management regulations in a decisive move to advance America’s energy independence and economic vitality. The recessions include:
  2. 43 CFR 3823.1 regarding prospecting within national forest wilderness for the purpose of gathering information about mineral resources.
  3. 43 CFR 3814.2(a) regarding disposal of reserved minerals under the Stock-Raising Homestead Act.
  4. 43 CFR 3823.2 regarding mineral locations within national forest wilderness.
  5. 43 CFR 3737.1 regarding mining claim and millsite use for purposes other than mining and milling.
  6. 43 CFR 3830.23(a)(5) regarding authorized debit payments for mining claims from a declining deposit account held with the BLM.
  7. 43 CFR 3835.31(d)(2) regarding filing of annual Federal Land Policy and Management Act documents for oil shale placer claims.
  8. 43 CFR 3200.7(b) & (c) regarding regulations applicable to geothermal leases issued before Aug. 8, 2005; and 43 CFR 3200.8(b)(2) regarding regulations applicable to geothermal leases pending on Aug. 8, 2005.
  9. 43 CFR 3203.5(b)(1) regarding obtaining a competitive geothermal lease; 43 CFR 3204.5(d) regarding obtaining a noncompetitive geothermal lease; and 43 CFR 3204.13 regarding processing of noncompetitive geothermal lease applications pending on Aug. 8, 2005.
  10. 43 CFR 3212.18 through 3212.24 regarding production incentives for geothermal leases
  11. 43 CFR 3503.37(f) regarding hardrock mineral acreage limits for permits and leases; and 43 CFR Part 3500 Subpart 3517 regarding hardrock mineral development contracts and processing and milling arrangements.
  12. 43 CFR 3212.26 regarding how to submit a request to modify the royalty rate terms of a geothermal lease; and 43 CFR 3212.27 regarding how those requests would be reviewed.
  13. 43 CFR 3261.17(b) regarding amendment of approved geothermal lease operation plans or drilling permits.
  14. 43 CFR Part 1850 regarding public lands hearings procedures.
  15. 43 CFR Part 3730 Subpart 3738 regarding mining in powersite withdrawal surface protection requirements.
  16. 43 CFR 3821.3 regarding requirements for filing a statement of assessment work for unpatented mining claims, mill sites, or tunnel sites on O&C Lands.
  17. 43 CFR 3809.400(b) & (c) regarding applicability of surface management plans of operations of mining claims under the general mining laws.
  18. 43 CFR 3834.11(b) regarding annual fees for oil shale placer mining claims.
  19. 43 CFR 3715.4 regarding the management of the use and occupancy of the public lands under the United States mining laws by limiting to prospecting, mining, or processing operations.

June 5, 2025

  1. The Bureau of Land Management approved mineral exploration on about 40 acres of public lands across a 24,727-acre area in Railroad Valley of Nye County.

June 11, 2025

  1. Members of the Trump administration’s National Energy Dominance Council respectively joined with representatives from several U.S. LNG producers to announce the finalization of four 20-year agreements between JERA Co, and U.S. companies to purchase up to 5.5 million tons per year of American LNG.
  2. The Environmental Protection Agency announced its proposal to repeal all “greenhouse gas” emissions standards for the power sector under Section 111 of the Clean Air Act (CAA).
  3. and to repeal amendments to the 2024 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) that directly result in coal-fired power plants having to shut down. These Biden-era regulations have imposed massive costs on coal-, oil-, and gas-fired power plants, raising the cost of living for American families, imperiling the reliability of our electric grid, and limiting American energy prosperity.

June 12, 2025

  1. The Department of the Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement announced a proposed rule to rescind the 2024 “Ten-Day Notices and Corrective Action” rule—a problematic regulation from the prior administration that complicated how states and the federal government work together to oversee surface coal mining. The proposed rule would restore the simpler, more effective 2020 version from the first Trump administration of the ten-day notice process, eliminating unnecessary layers of federal bureaucracy and putting regulatory authority back where it belongs—with the states.

June 17, 2025

  1. The Department of the Interior released a draft analysis for public comment, which supports the selection of a new alternative from the 2020 plan that would reopen up to 82% of the 23-million-acre reserve to oil and gas leasing and development.

June 18, 2025

  1. The Department of the Interior released a U.S. Geological Survey report on undiscovered oil and gas resources in formations under the federally managed public lands of the U.S., estimating that there are technically recoverable resources of 29.4 billion barrels of oil and 391.6 trillion cubic feet of gas.  If produced, that would be enough oil to supply all of the nation’s needs for 4 years at the current rate of consumption, and enough natural gas to meet the nation’s needs for nearly 12 years. 

June 20, 2025

  1. The Bureau of Land Management issued a decision approving a final supplemental environmental assessment that provides enhanced air quality analysis and affirms previous decisions approving the Bull Mountain Unit Master Development Plan and the Dual Operator 5-Pad Proposal. The projects are for the development of 55 private and 171 federal oil and gas wells on 38 new and existing well pads within the BLM Uncompahgre Field Office in western Gunnison County.

June 25, 2025

  1. The Department of the Interior announced new policy steps to speed up the search and development of critical minerals offshore, To support a more efficient and predictable offshore minerals program, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, or BOEM, and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, or BSEE, are updating policies across all stages of development—from early exploration to post-lease operations and production. These updates are designed to reduce delays, improve coordination, and provide greater certainty for industry, all while upholding key environmental safeguards. 

June 30, 2025

  1. The White House, through the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), coordinated a historic effort to significantly reduce the burdens of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance across the Federal government, allowing America to get back to building again.

June 30, 2025

  1. The Department of Energy published an interim final rule rescinding all NEPA regulations and published new NEPA guidance procedures for the Department of Energy.
  2. The Environmental Protection Agency announced the agency’s intent to update the 2024 Effluent Limitations Guidelines (ELGs) for Steam Electric Power Generating Units. This action advances the goals of President Trump’s Unleashing American Energy Executive Order by ensuring the country has reliable, affordable electricity while protecting our nation’s water resources under the Clean Water Act.

July 4, 2025

  1. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act was passed into law, ushering in an end to mass green energy subsidization and ending the war on fossil fuel while driving further investment into domestic oil and gas production. Major provisions include:
  2. Terminates the 45V Clean Hydrogen Production Credit for projects that commence construction after December 31, 2027, up from the previous phase-out of 2033.
  3. Termination of clean hydrogen production credit 45V:
  4. 25E tax credit – Previously Owned Clean Vehicle Credit terminates September 30, 2025.
  5. 30D tax credit – Clean Vehicle Credit terminates 180 days after enactment.
  6. 45W tax credit – Commercial Clean Vehicle Credit terminates on September 30, 2025.
  7. 30C tax credit – Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit terminates on June 30, 2026.
  8. 25C tax credit – Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit terminates after December 31, 2025.
  9. 25D tax credit – Residential Clean Energy Credit terminates after December 31, 2025.
  10. 179D tax credit – Energy Efficient Commercial Buildings Deduction terminates for property which begins construction after June 30, 2026.
  11. 45L tax credit -New Energy Efficient Home Credit terminates after June 30, 2026.
  12. Phase-out and Restrictions on 45X Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit: Eliminates the credit for wind energy components after December 31, 2027.
  13. Restrictions on the Extension of 48C Advanced Energy Project Credit Program: Eliminates the ability of the Treasury Secretary to reissue credits from funds of projects whose credits have been revoked to new projects.
  14. NEPA – The OBBB allows a project sponsor to pay a fee—equal to 125% of the anticipated costs of expected agency activities to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) or environmental assessment (EA)—to receive an EIS for their project in one year and their EA within 180 days. The Byrd Rule eliminated a section in the original Senate bill that stated that these EISs or EAs would not be subject to judicial review.
  15. According to preliminary Congressional Budget Office estimates, the OBBB is expected to rescind over $5 billion in unobligated balances from the following programs that were funded by or created in the Inflation Reduction Act (Section 41001). The OBBB repeals the loan authority (authorizing language) established in the IRA for the Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Loan Program, in addition to rescinding funding for the following offices:
    1. State-Based Energy Efficiency Training Grants (Sec. 50123 of the IRA)
    2. Title 17 Loan Guarantee Program (Sec. 50141 of the IRA)
    3. Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Loan Program (Sec. 50142 of the IRA)
    4. Energy Infrastructure Reinvestment Financing, also known as the 1706 Program (Sec. 50144 of the IRA)
    5. Tribal Energy Loan Guarantee Program (Sec. 50145 of the IRA)
    6. Transmission Facility Financing (Sec. 50151 of the IRA)
    7. Grants to Facilitate the Siting of Interstate Electricity Transmission Lines (Sec. 50152 of the IRA)
    8. Interregional and Offshore Wind Electricity Transmission Planning, Modeling, and Analysis (Sec. 50153 of the IRA)
    9. Advanced Industrial Facilities Deployment Program (Sec. 50161 of the IRA)

July 7, 2025

  1. The Department of the Interior proposed critical updates to Bureau of Land Management oil and gas regulations that would make it easier for operators to combine production from multiple leases—a practice known as commingling. Current Bureau of Land Management regulations restrict commingling to leases that have identical mineral ownership, royalty rates, and revenue distribution. These requirements create unnecessary barriers in many areas of the West where mineral ownership is complex and varied. The proposed changes would allow commingling even when these conditions differ, unlocking energy potential that is currently tied up in regulatory red tape. 
  2. The Bureau of Land Management opened a window for public comment on potential updates to coal leasing on public lands in the coal-rich Powder River Basin areas of southeast Montana and northeast Wyoming. 
  3. The Bureau of Land Management approved Coal Energy Group 2, LLC’s proposal to expand the Wildcat Loadout Facility under an accelerated 14-day environmental review process, initiated in response to the national energy emergency declared by President Donald J. Trump. The facility, used to transfer Uinta Basin crude oil from tanker trucks to rail cars, will be reconfigured to accommodate new infrastructure within the current 270-acre project area. 
  4. The Bureau of Land Management Colorado State Office announced an oil and gas lease sale scheduled for Sept. 9, 2025, to offer 14 oil and gas parcels totaling 7,896 acres in Colorado.

July 8, 2025

  1. The Department of the Interior gave the green light to Hurricane Creek Mining, LLC, to mine coal on Bryson Mountain in Claiborne County, Tennessee. This project will produce up to 1.8 million tons of coal over the next 10 years, helping to strengthen America’s energy independence and create local jobs.
  2. The Bureau of Land Management Wyoming State Office announced an oil and gas lease sale scheduled for Sept. 16, 2025, to offer 37 oil and gas parcels totaling 45,178 acres in Wyoming.

July 9, 2025

  1. The Bureau of Land Management Montana-Dakotas State Office announced an oil and gas lease sale scheduled for September 10, 2025, to offer 26 oil and gas parcels totaling 8,355 acres in Montana and North Dakota.

July 10, 2025

  1. The Bureau of Land Management announced a proposed coal exploration project in Utah’s Muddy Creek Canyon area as part of a larger federal effort to reinvigorate the coal industry and advance American energy independence. This is the BLM’s first coal exploration notice nationwide since 2019. 

July 11, 2025

  1. The U.S. Department of Energy announced the authorization of an exchange from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve with ExxonMobil Corporation to address logistical challenges impacting crude oil deliveries to the company’s Baton Rouge refinery. ExxonMobil will return the borrowed crude along with additional barrels of crude oil for the SPR at no cost to the taxpayer.

July 12, 2025

  1. The Department of Energy announced termination of its conditional commitment for the Grain Belt Express Phase 1 project, a high-voltage direct current transmission line intended to connect wind and solar capacity across Kansas and Missouri. The conditional commitment, which would have provided a taxpayer-funded loan guarantee of up to $4.9 billion, was issued by the Biden administration in November 2024 – one of many conditional commitments that were rushed out the door in the final days of the Biden administration.

July 16, 2025

  1. While in Pennsylvania, President Trump announced a $92 billion investment into energy and AI initiatives, emphasizing that the only way forward in the AI revolution is with reliable and plentiful energy.
  2. The Bureau of Land Management Utah State Office announced an oil and gas lease sale scheduled for Sept. 24, 2025, to offer 15 oil and gas parcels totaling 19,014 acres in Utah.

July 17, 2025

  1. The Department of the Interior ends preferential treatment for unreliable, subsidy-dependent wind and solar energy. All Department-related decisions and actions concerning wind and solar energy facilities will undergo elevated review by the Office of the Secretary, including leases, rights-of-way, construction and operation plans, grants, consultations, and biological opinions. This enhanced oversight will ensure all evaluations are thorough and deliberative.
  2. The Department of the Interior updated its guidelines for states applying to federal programs aimed at cleaning up abandoned oil and gas wells. The changes are meant to cut red tape and help states act faster. By giving states more flexibility and speeding up well-plugging efforts, the Department is helping advance the administration’s goal of unleashing U.S. energy resources, protecting American job,s and reducing federal overreach.

July 24, 2025

  1. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued letters to portable fuel container (PFC or gas can) manufacturers encouraging them to add vents to gas cans to ensure safe and effective refueling. This announcement comes in response to years of complaints about slow, frustrating fuel flow from modern gas cans. The letter is part of EPA’s broader effort to address the issue of regulatory confusion and accurately communicate to make sure manufacturers and the public understand EPA’s requirements.
  2. The Bureau of Land Management approved 36 lease renewals for the continued operation of five active mines within the Mark Twain National Forest in southeastern Missouri.

July 25, 2025

  1. The Bureau of Land Management Eastern States State Office announced an oil and gas lease sale scheduled for Sept. 23, 2025, to offer five oil and gas parcels totaling 2,090 acres in Louisiana, Michigan, and Mississippi.

July 28, 2025

  1. The Bureau of Land Management rescinded three policy documents that sought to expand and intensify restrictions on special area management within the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. The rescinded documents include:
    1. A request for information titled “Special Areas within the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska” that published in the Federal Register in July 2024.
    2. A report titled “Maximizing Protection in the National Petroleum Reserve – Alaska” was published in January 2025.
    3. A BLM memorandum entitled “BLM Interim Management of Special Areas within the National Petroleum Reserve – Alaska” was published in January 2025. 

July 29, 2025

  1. The Environmental Protection Agency released the agency’s proposal to rescind the 2009 Endangerment Finding, which has been used to justify over $1 trillion in regulations, including the Biden-Harris Administration’s electric vehicle (EV) mandate. If finalized, the proposal would repeal all resulting greenhouse gas emissions regulations for motor vehicles and engines, thereby reinstating consumer choice and giving Americans the ability to purchase a safe and affordable car for their family while decreasing the cost of living on all products that trucks deliver.

August 1, 2025

  1. The Bureau of Land Management announced it will hold a competitive sealed-bid coal lease sale for federal coal reserves at the Freedom Mine in Mercer County, North Dakota, on Sept. 3, 2025.

August 4, 2025

  1. The Bureau of Land Management New Mexico State Office announced an oil and gas lease sale scheduled for Nov. 6, 2025, to offer 21 oil and gas parcels totaling 8,843 acres in New Mexico and Oklahoma.

August 5, 2025

  1. The Department of the Interior approved a mining plan modification for the Rosebud Mine in Rosebud and Treasure counties, Montana. The decision enables the recovery of approximately 33.75 million tons of federal coal and extends the mine’s operation through 2039. It marks the second-largest federal coal mine expansion approved since the beginning of the second Trump administration.
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AEA Leads Coalition Letter to Treasury and IRS Urging Updated Guidance

August 6, 2025 by Leave a Comment

WASHINGTON DC (8/6/25) – Today, a coalition of 16 organizations, led by the American Energy Alliance, sent a letter to the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) providing suggestions on how to carry out the statutory language of the recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, “OBBBA”). The text of the letter and the list of signers are available here.

American Energy Alliance President Tom Pyle released the following statement:

“The Big Beautiful Bill’s passage into law marked a pivotal shift in federal energy tax policy; the IRA guidance needs to reflect that change to follow the text and intent of the law. We, as an organization, have said repeatedly that in order to follow the law, the administration needs to tighten Treasury rules. Ensuring that legitimate efforts are made to start construction and not allowing the gamesmanship the Obama administration enabled will ensure that the energy subsidy lobby doesn’t continue to game the system at the public’s expense. Congress did its job to promote energy reliability and end the subsidy gravy train. Now it’s the administration’s turn to implement these reforms in good faith and carry them out as intended.” 

Key points from the letter:

  • Calls for the IRS to eliminate the Five Percent Safe Harbor and instead require actual physical construction of electrical generating equipment.
  • Explains that IRS notices cited in the OBBBA apply only to foreign entity rules—not to the production or investment credits.
  • Requests stronger standards for “beginning of construction” and “continuous program of construction” that reflect the new law and the administration’s directive.
  • Urges clear guidance that all qualifying projects must be placed in service by December 31, 2027, regardless of start date.

AEA Experts Available For Interview On This Topic:

Additional Background Resources From AEA:

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Coalition Letter to Treasury and IRS Suggesting Updated Guidance

August 6, 2025 by Leave a Comment

On Wednesday, August 6th, a coalition of sixteen organizations dedicated to preserving free markets and putting taxpayers and consumers first, led by the American Energy Alliance, sent a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent providing suggestions on how to carry out the statutory language of the recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, “OBBBA”). The text of the letter, and list of signatories, is available below.

U.S. Department of the Treasury
Office of the Secretary
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20220

August 6, 2025

Re: Request for Revision of IRS Notices related to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

Dear Secretary Bessent,

We respectfully request that the Internal Revenue Service revise IRS Notices 2013-29, 2013-60, 2014-46, 2015-25, 2016-31, 2017-4, and 2021-41 to align with the statutory provisions enacted under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, “OBBBA”).

Background and Statutory Context

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) sunsets the generous subsidies for wind and solar generation in the Clean Electricity Production Credit and the Clean Electricity Investment Credit of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA). The law, however, does not define some key provisions. President Trump signed the OBBBA into law on July 4, 2025. Subsequently, on July 7, 2025, the president signed Executive Order 14315 (“Ending Market Distorting Subsidies for Unreliable, Foreign-Controlled Energy Sources”), which directs the Secretary of the Treasury to “take all action as the Secretary of the Treasury deems necessary and appropriate to strictly enforce the termination of the clean electricity production and investment tax credits under sections 45Y and 48E of the Internal Revenue Code for wind and solar facilities.”

The Executive Order specifically requires issuing “new and revised guidance as the Secretary of the Treasury deems appropriate and consistent with applicable law to ensure that policies concerning the ‘beginning of construction’ are not circumvented, including by preventing the artificial acceleration or manipulation of eligibility and by restricting the use of broad safe harbors unless a substantial portion of a subject facility has been built.”

Critically, the OBBBA explicitly codifies only IRS Notice 2013-29 and Notice 2018-59 for purposes of the prohibited foreign entity rules under new section 7701(a)(51), but this incorporation is limited in scope, and these notices were not codified for purposes of the Clean Electricity Production Credit and the Clean Electricity Investment Credit.

Specific Issues Requiring Clarification

1. Limited Scope of Notice Incorporation

The text of OBBBA at section 7512(c) states that “the beginning of construction with respect to any property shall be determined pursuant to rules similar to the rules under Internal Revenue Service Notice 2013-29 and Internal Revenue Service Notice 2018-59 (as well as any subsequently issued guidance clarifying, modifying, or updating either such Notice), as in effect on January 1, 2025”. However, this codification applies solely to the prohibited foreign entity provisions and does not extend to:

  • The Clean Electricity Production Credit under Section 45Y
  • The Clean Electricity Investment Credit under Section 48E

2. “Beginning of Construction” Standard for Clean Energy Credits

For the Clean Electricity Production Credit (Section 45Y) and Clean Electricity Investment Credit (Section 48E), the OBBBA does not incorporate the existing IRS notice framework. This creates regulatory uncertainty regarding the “beginning of construction” requirements for these technology-neutral credits.

The statute requires clarification that for these credits, “beginning of construction” means the commencement of physical construction of the electricity-producing equipment itself, not merely preparatory activities or financial commitments.

3. Elimination of the “Five Percent Safe Harbor”

The Obama administration, starting in 2013, created a non-statutory “safe harbor” whereby construction is deemed to begin when a taxpayer has paid or incurred at least 5% of the total project cost. Under that framework, “construction begins when 5% or more of the facility’s total cost has been paid or incurred” under the Five Percent Safe Harbor test.

However, the OBBBA’s statutory framework, particularly for wind and solar facilities subject to accelerated phase-outs, suggests legislative intent to eliminate this financial safe harbor in favor of requiring actual physical construction activities.

4. “Continuous Program of Construction” Standard

The revised IRS notices should specify that a “continuous program of construction” must involve continuing physical work of a significant nature on the electrical-generating equipment itself. This represents a more stringent standard than the current IRS guidance, which may allow for construction activities on supporting infrastructure or other project components to satisfy continuity requirements.

5. Repudiation of the Continuity Safe Harbor from Prior IRS Notices

The revised IRS notices should also specify that the two key provisions from the OBBBA are that the project needs to start construction within one year of the passage of the OBBBA and that the project needs to be placed in service before December 31, 2027. Any continuity “safe harbor” beyond December 31, 2027, is not consistent with the law. 

Requested Administrative Action

In light of both the OBBBA’s statutory requirements and Executive Order 14315’s directive to prevent circumvention of “beginning of construction” policies and restrict broad safe harbors, we respectfully request that the IRS issue revised guidance that:

  1. Clarifies the limited scope of IRS Notices 2013-29 and 2018-59 incorporation under OBBBA, specifically that these notices apply only to prohibited foreign entity determinations under section 7701(a)(51) and not to the Clean Electricity Production Credit or Clean Electricity Investment Credit eligibility determinations.
  2. Establishes a physical work standard for “beginning of construction” under Sections 45Y and 48E that requires actual commencement of physical construction of electricity-producing equipment.
  3. Eliminates the Five Percent Safe Harbor for projects claiming Clean Electricity Production Credits or Clean Electricity Investment Credits, consistent with Executive Order 14315’s directive to restrict “broad safe harbors unless a substantial portion of a subject facility has been built,” requiring demonstration of physical construction activities rather than financial commitments.
  4. Defines “continuous program of construction” to require ongoing physical work of a significant nature, specifically on electrical-generating equipment, not merely on ancillary project infrastructure. 
  5. Clarify that ALL projects must be placed in service by December 31, 2027, to qualify for the PTC and the ITC. 
  6. Provides transitional guidance for projects that may have relied on the Five Percent Safe Harbor under pre-OBBBA guidance but are now subject to the physical work standard.

Conclusion

The OBBBA represents a significant shift in federal energy tax policy, particularly regarding the standards for “beginning of construction.” Executive Order 14315 further emphasizes the Administration’s commitment to strict enforcement of these new standards and the elimination of broad safe harbors that could enable circumvention of the statutory termination dates for wind and solar tax credits. Clear administrative guidance is essential to provide certainty to taxpayers and ensure consistent application of these new statutory requirements in accordance with both the OBBBA and Executive Order 14315.

We appreciate your consideration of this request and look forward to your guidance on these critical implementation issues.

Respectfully submitted,

Tom Pyle
President
American Energy Alliance

Brent Gardner
Chief Government Affairs Officer
Americans for Prosperity

Phil Kerpen
President
American Commitment

Daniel J. Mitchell
President
Center for Freedom and Prosperity

Jenny Beth Martin
Honorary Chairman
Tea Party Patriots Action

Amy Cooke
President
Always On Energy Research

Paul Gessing
President
Rio Grande Foundation

Daniel Turner
Founder & Executive Director
Power the Future

Grover Norquist
President
Americans for Tax Reform

Sarah Montalbano
Energy and Environment Policy Fellow
Center of the American Experiment

Craig Richardson
President
Energy & Environment Legal Institute

David T. Stevenson
Director of the Center for Energy & Environment
Caesar Rodney Institute

Jon Sanders
Director of the Center for Food, Power, and Life
John Locke Foundation

E. Calvin Beisner, Ph.D.
President
Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation

Seton Motley
President
Less Government

Daren Bakst
Director of the Center for Energy and Environment
Competitive Enterprise Institute

CC:

Commissioner Billy Long
Office of the Commissioner
Internal Revenue Service Building
1111 Constitution Ave, NW, Washington, D.C.

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Trump’s EPA Restores Sanity Through Endangerment Finding Recession

August 4, 2025 by Leave a Comment

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin has announced a proposal to repeal the 2009 Endangerment Finding, a key legal basis for more than $1 trillion in federal climate regulations — including the Biden administration’s electric vehicle mandate. If finalized, the move would eliminate EPA climate regulations on motor vehicles and engines, restoring greater consumer choice in the auto market. The Endangerment Finding has allowed the EPA to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from a wide range of sources, including cars, trucks, power plants, airplanes, and oil and gas operations. Zeldin argues that the finding imposes excessive regulatory burdens on both transportation and stationary emission sources. The EPA estimates that rescinding it would save Americans approximately $54 billion annually by rolling back all greenhouse gas standards.

In 2007, the Supreme Court’s decision in Massachusetts v. EPA gave the agency authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions if the EPA determined that global warming threatened public health or welfare. In response, the Obama administration issued the Endangerment Finding, which the Biden administration later used to mandate that by 2032, two-thirds of light-duty vehicles and 46% of medium-duty vehicles manufactured must be electric — effectively limiting consumer choice. The newly proposed rescission of the Endangerment Finding would eliminate all greenhouse gas standards for light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles and engines. It would also include provisions such as off-cycle credits.

According to American Trucking Association President and CEO Chris Spear, “This electric-truck mandate put the trucking industry on a path to economic ruin and would have crippled our supply chain, disrupted deliveries, and raised prices for American families and businesses. Moreover, it kicked innovation to the curb by discarding available technologies that can further drive down emissions at a fraction of the cost. For four decades, our industry has proven that we are committed to reducing emissions. The trucking industry supports cleaner, more efficient technologies, but we need policies rooted in real-world conditions.”

While announcing the repeal, Zeldin explained how the finding was based on obsolete data and misrepresented evidence on the impact of carbon dioxide emissions, calling the repeal the “most significant deregulatory action in U.S. history.” He added that “[t]here are people who, in the name of climate change, are willing to bankrupt the country.” Zeldin is challenging the endangerment finding on a legal and procedural basis. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking repealing the finding argues that the section of the Clean Air Act does not authorize the EPA to regulate emissions standards to address climate change.

The EPA cited a U.S. Department of Energy report that was also released on the same day. This report reviews underreported aspects of climate science, indicating that climate models exaggerate estimates of future global warming, carbon-dioxide-induced warming may be less damaging economically than commonly believed, and that excessively aggressive mitigation policies could prove more detrimental than beneficial. The report was written by five scientists who conducted the analysis independent of the Trump administration’s Department of Energy.

Since 2005, carbon dioxide emissions in the United States have declined by over 20%, primarily due to innovation and a shift from coal to natural gas in the power generation sector. That compares to China, whose carbon dioxide emissions have grown 85% since 2005 and is still building an average of two large coal-fired plants a week. Environmentalists, however, prefer to highlight China’s increased solar and wind capacity — inefficient technologies that produce a fraction of the energy that coal plants are capable of producing.

Zeldin’s proposed rule to rescind the endangerment finding must go through a public comment period that ends September 21, and the rule is likely to face lawsuits challenging the change. Zeldin is requesting people on both sides of the issue to submit comments.

Analysis

Supporters of rescinding the 2009 Endangerment Finding argue that the move represents a necessary course correction to restore regulatory balance, protect consumer freedom, and prevent economic harm. The Endangerment Finding has served as the legal foundation for sweeping and costly federal climate regulations, including mandates that restrict the types of vehicles Americans can buy and limit the technologies industries can use. These mandates have imposed significant burdens on key sectors such as transportation, energy, and manufacturing — costs that ultimately get passed on to families and businesses. Eliminating these regulatory barriers is expected to save Americans $54 billion annually, unlock over $1 trillion in long-term economic value, and boost GDP by as much as $440 billion each year. Importantly, this move does not abandon environmental progress; U.S. emissions have already fallen over 20% since 2005, largely thanks to market-driven innovation — not federal mandates. By removing legally questionable restrictions, the EPA’s proposed rule would shift the focus from punitive regulation to practical, innovation-led solutions that align environmental goals with economic realities.

*This article was adapted from content originally published by the Institute for Energy Research.

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The Unregulated Podcast #240: After the Wine Kicks In

August 4, 2025 by Leave a Comment

On this episode of The Unregulated Podcast Tom Pyle and Mike McKenna discuss what Congress is talking about while on break, the latest stories out of the People’s Republic of California, and forecasts for American energy production.

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Trump Orders Save American Industry From Biden Admin’s Regulatory Attacks

August 1, 2025 by Leave a Comment

The Trump administration is exempting over 100 chemical manufacturing plants, oil refineries, coal plants, medical device sterilizers, and other companies from Clean Air Act rules set by the Biden administration, recognizing that “overly restrictive environmental regulations undermine America’s energy reliability, economic vitality, and national security.” The Trump administration issued four proclamations exempting the facilities from one of four rules for two years. The plan is that by the time the two-year exemptions expire, the rules in question may be removed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). According to the White House, “The exemptions ensure that these facilities within these critical industries can continue to operate uninterrupted to support national security without incurring substantial costs to comply with, in some cases, unattainable compliance requirements.” Even the Biden administration had noted the disruption the rules would cause when it previously said it would consider exempting facilities from a rule to prevent disruptions to supply chains for medical devices.

Due to one of the proclamations, more than 50 chemical manufacturers and oil refineries are exempt from requirements to reduce emissions of certain chemicals, including ethylene oxide and chloroprene. Eight producers of taconite iron ore, used in making steel, are exempt from requirements to reduce mercury emissions by about 33%. These plants are needed in the production of semiconductors and energy. Six coal plants are also exempt from the more stringent restrictions on emissions of mercury, nickel, arsenic, and lead set by the Biden administration, joining 66 other coal plants previously exempted.

On May 7, 2024, Biden’s EPA published a final rule, titled National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Coal- and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units Review of the Residual Risk and Technology Review, which amended the preexisting Mercury and Air Toxics Standards rule set by the Obama administration to make it more stringent. The Biden rule’s compliance date is July 8, 2027, three years after the rule’s effective date of July 8, 2024.  Because the rule requires compliance with standards based on emissions-control technologies that do not yet exist in a commercially viable form, President Trump issued the proclamation for coal plants that allows the exemptions.

In March, the EPA set up a portal allowing companies to request exemptions from nine Clean Air Act rules. Among those exempted are taconite iron ore plants in Minnesota owned by the United States Steel Corp. and six facilities owned by Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. in Minnesota and Michigan. Chemical makers, including Dow Inc. and BASF SE, and refiners such as Phillips 66 and Citgo Petroleum Corp., also received waivers from EPA regulations requiring emissions controls for certain facilities, allowing them to avoid massive capital investments for compliance or shutting down.

With the latest announcement, coal-fired power plants in Ohio, Illinois, and Colorado were exempted from Biden’s climate mandates limiting emissions of mercury. Other coal plants that received exemptions earlier are Montana’s Colstrip Generating Station, North Dakota’s Coal Creek Station, and the Oak Grove plant in Texas. The exemptions also apply to four plants operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority, the nation’s largest public utility. According to the EPA, the presidential exemptions “will bolster coal-fired electricity generation, ensuring that our nation’s grid is reliable, that electricity is affordable for the American people, and that EPA is helping to promote our nation’s energy security.”

President Trump issued executive orders to allow some older coal-fired power plants set for retirement to keep operating due to rising U.S. electricity demand from growth in data centers, artificial intelligence, and electric vehicles. Trump also directed his agencies to identify coal resources and prioritize coal leasing on federal lands, and to lift barriers to coal mining.

Analysis

Ideally, environmental regulations should not be subject to ad hoc exemptions on a firm-by-firm basis, as this undermines the rule of law and creates uncertainty for both industry and the public. Equal treatment under the law requires that all companies operate under the same set of rules, not temporary carveouts granted through executive discretion. Given that the current regulations are unworkable and reliant on nonexistent technologies, the EPA should move swiftly to revoke or revise them through proper administrative channels. Furthermore, Congress should act to codify a more balanced and technologically feasible standard, ensuring clarity, consistency, and long-term legal stability for energy producers and manufacturers alike.

*This article was adapted from content originally published by the Institute for Energy Research.

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AEA’s Statement on EPA Draft Rule Withdrawing Endangerment Finding

July 29, 2025 by Leave a Comment

WASHINGTON DC (7/29/25) – Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its proposed rulemaking to withdraw the 2009 endangerment finding for greenhouse gases. Concurrently, the Department of Energy released a separate report on the state of climate science.

American Energy Alliance President Tom Pyle released the following statement:

“For a decade and a half, the EPA has used the ‘endangerment finding’ as authority to reject permits, shut down projects, and deny Americans access to reliable, affordable energy and transportation choice. It has reshaped investment and infrastructure to our country’s detriment and has been used as a vehicle to push a political agenda.

“The longstanding legal and scientific issues with the endangerment finding are finally going to be addressed under the leadership of President Donald Trump, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, and Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. Congress never granted EPA authority to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act–legislation written specifically for harmful pollutants, not global emissions–and yet the endangerment finding has been used as a justification to repeatedly do exactly that.” 

AEA Experts Available For Interview On This Topic:

Additional Background Resources From AEA:

For media inquiries please contact:
[email protected]

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AEA Unveils New Website to Empower Energy Advocates

July 22, 2025 by Leave a Comment

WASHINGTON DC (7/22/25) – The American Energy Alliance (AEA) is proud to announce the launch of our newly refreshed website. This redesigned site offers improved navigation and an enhanced user experience, making it easier to access tools and resources to empower American energy consumers and policymakers. 

American Energy Alliance President Tom Pyle released the following statement:

“Our new web design is all about making it easier for visitors to find the information that they need on key energy policy issues. We’ve streamlined the design and made navigating information easier to help both the private citizens and policymakers who look to us for our analyses and research. By improving the way we deliver content, we are working in support of our mission of advancing policy in favor of free market solutions and affordable, reliable energy for all.” 

Key features of the new website include:

  • Improved Navigation: Easy access to research, policy updates, projects, and news.
  • Action Hub: Tools for grassroots engagement, including ways to contact elected officials and stay informed on key legislation.
  • Updated American Energy Scorecard: Our key tool for empowering the American people to hold their elected officials accountable for the decisions they make in Washington.

To explore the new site and learn more about the American Energy Alliance’s mission, visit www.americanenergyalliance.org.

AEA Experts Available For Interview On This Topic:

Additional Resources:

For media inquiries, please contact:
[email protected]

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The Unregulated Podcast #238: The Circus

July 21, 2025 by Leave a Comment

On this episode of The Unregulated Podcast Tom Pyle and Mike McKenna discuss the high-profile events shaping the internal politics of a certain subset of “Trump World” and the latest stories shaping international energy markets.

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