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by Michelle Moons 27 Mar 2017Washington, DC

A senior administration official said that the coming EO will review some and take other Obama executive orders “off the books immediately to the extent we can,” while also looking forward to providing a “beginning framework for a strategy on energy.” Under the new order, each executive department and agency in the U.S. government will be responsible for identifying impediments to energy production.

Energy policy under the order will stay in line with the President’s desire for U.S. energy independence and return the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to its core mission. The new order establishes the Trump Administration’s approach to climate change.

Former President Obama’s Clean Power Plan, which has been tied up in the courts, will be reviewed and possibly find itself on the chopping block in Trump’s new order. There is not a time frame for review of the Clean Power Plan, but the official predicted that there would be court challenges regarding that aspect of the EO. The new rule from the Clean Air Act will also be reviewed.

The Interior Department-imposed coal moratorium will also be rescinded, according to the official.

The official listed Obama AdministrationPresidential memorandums, including the 2013 Climate Action Plan, among what will be rescinded, “…that obviously will be going away.” A total of about six executive orders and memorandums will be rescinded.

The official stated that there would be policies related to the National Environmental Policy Act. Guidance on climate change publishedby the Council on Environmental Quality last August will be rescinded. The senior administration official added that there would be language on the “social cost of greenhouse gases.” Carbon, methane, and nitrous oxide were specifically mentioned.

“The previous Administration put out its own estimates, not in a very transparent fashion, in a fashion that we believe violates the longstanding OMB policies.” Those will no longer stand as a result, the official added. Regulations related to methane production at EPA and the Bureau of Land Management will be reviewed to see if they “reflect the policy priority that’s outlined at the beginning of the order.”

The Administration is looking at all energy options including nuclear, renewables, clean coal, natural gas, “all of it,” the official said.

Questions regarding the Administration’s stance on the Paris climate agreement were denied as the Administration continues to discuss it.

The coal industry can expect to see review of coal policies and potential rescinding of some Obama Administration policies. The official said that President Trump, “is gonna do whatever he can to help those workers.” The official continued, “There are a lot of different portions that conspire to affect” the coal industry.

“The Clean Power Plan was designed to address Climate Change. You look at EPA’s own numbers, they even admitted that in terms of how it’s going to impact global temperatures, it’s not,” said the official. “I think there are plenty of rules on the books already. We will continue to enforce that provide for clean air and clean water.” The official said that’s the core mission of EPA that the President wants them to stick to.

A strong growing economy is among the best ways to protect the environment, the official said.

“The previous administration devalued workers by their policies,” the official continued. “We’re saying we can do both, we can protect the environment and provide people with work and keep the economy growing.”

The official stated that the President is “not going to pursue climate or environmental policies that put the U.S. economy at risk. It’s very simple.”

Carol M. Brownerwas an administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the energy czar for the Barack Obama administration, a director at the Climate Reality Project, and is a director at the Center for American Progress.

Note: Earl E. Devaneywas the director of criminal enforcement for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), an inspector general for the U.S. Department of the Interior, and is a director at Winrock International.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Climate Reality Project, the Center for American Progress, the Brookings Institution (think tank), the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Sundance Institute.

George Soroswas the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, a supporter for the Center for American Progress, and is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.  

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Center for American Progress, the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank), and the Natural Resources Defense Council.

David J. Hayes is a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, and was a deputy secretary for the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Center for American Progress Action Fund is an affiliated advocacy group for the Center for American Progress.

Jennifer M. Palmieri was the president of the Center for American Progress Action Fund, the SVP for the Center for American Progress, and a communications director, assistant to the president for the Barack Obama administration.

Melody C. Barneswas the EVP for the Center for American Progress, a domestic policy council, director for the Barack Obama administration, and is Barack Obama’s golf partner.

Center for American Progress Action Fund is an affiliated advocacy group for the Center for American Progress.

Molly McUsic is a director at the Center for American Progress Action Fund, and was a counselor to the secretary for the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Bureau of Land Management is a division of the U.S. Department of the Interior, and the federal coal leasing program is their program.

George T. Frampton Jr. was an assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of the Interior, and Albert A. Gore Jr’s attorney.

Albert A. Gore Jr.’s attorney was George T. Frampton Jr., and is the chairman for the Climate Reality Project.

Carol M. Brownerwas a director at the Climate Reality Project, the energy czar for the Barack Obama administration, an administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and is a director at the Center for American Progress.

Earl E. Devaneywas the director of criminal enforcement for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), an inspector general for the U.S. Department of the Interior, and is a director at Winrock International.

Jason Bordoff is a director at Winrock International, a founding director for the Center on Global Energy Policy (think tank), was a special assistant to the President for the Barack Obama administration, and a senior director for energy & climate change for the National Security Council.

Carlos Pascual was a senior director at the National Security Council, a VP for the Brookings Institution (think tank), is a fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy (think tank), and a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

Richard C. Blumis an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), married to Senator Dianne Feinstein, and a governing council member for the Wilderness Society.

George T. Frampton Jr. is a governing council member for the Wilderness Society, was an assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of the Interior, and Albert A. Gore Jr’s attorney.

Albert A. Gore Jr.’s attorney was George T. Frampton Jr., and is the chairman for the Climate Reality Project.

Carol M. Brownerwas a director at the Climate Reality Project, the energy czar for the Barack Obama administration, an administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and is a director at the Center for American Progress.

Center for American Progress Action Fund is an affiliated advocacy group for the Center for American Progress.

Molly McUsic is a director at the Center for American Progress Action Fund, and was a counselor to the secretary for the U.S. Department of the Interior.

John D. Podesta was the chairman for the Center for American Progress Action Fund, a counselor for the Barack Obama administration, is the founder of the Center for American Progress, and Anthony T. Podesta’s brother.

Anthony T. Podestais John D. Podesta’s brother, and the founder & chairman for the Podesta Group.

Podesta Groupwas the lobby firm for the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity.

American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity advocates coal use in the Clean coal debate.

Reality Coalition opposes coal use in the Clean coal debate, and is a partner with the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Natural Resources Defense Council is a partner with the Reality Coalition, and a member of the U.S. Climate Action Partnership.

James Gustave Speth is an honorary trustee at the Natural Resources Defense Council, and a director at the Climate Reality Project.

Albert A. Gore Jr.is the chairman for the Climate Reality Project, his attorney was George T. Frampton Jr., and a donor for The Climate Project.

Alliance for Climate Protection is a merged organization with the Climate Reality Project.

The Climate Project was a merged organization with the Climate Reality Project.

Norman Lear was a donor for The Climate Project, and is married to Lyn Davis Lear.

Lyn Davis Learis married to Norman Lear, and a trustee at the Sundance Institute.

Robert Redfordis the founder & president of the Sundance Institute, and a trustee at the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Natural Resources Defense Council is a partner with the Reality Coalition, and a member of the U.S. Climate Action Partnership.

James Gustave Speth is an honorary trustee at the Natural Resources Defense Council, and a director at the Climate Reality Project.

Albert A. Gore Jr.is the chairman for the Climate Reality Project, his attorney was George T. Frampton Jr., and a donor for The Climate Project.

Alliance for Climate Protection is a merged organization with the Climate Reality Project.

George T. Frampton Jr. was Albert A. Gore Jr’s attorney, an assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of the Interior, and is a governing council member for the Wilderness Society.

Richard C. Blumis a governing council member for the Wilderness Society, married to Senator Dianne Feinstein, and an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Wilbur L. Ross Jr.was a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), the chairman for the International Coal Group, and is the secretary at the U.S. Department of Commerce for the Donald Trump administration.

International Coal Group was a member of the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, and acquired by Arch Coal Inc.

American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity advocates coal use in the Clean coal debate.

Reality Coalition opposes coal use in the Clean coal debate, and is a partner with the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Natural Resources Defense Council is a partner with the Reality Coalition, and a member of the U.S. Climate Action Partnership.

Carlos Pascual was a VP for the Brookings Institution (think tank), a senior director at the National Security Council, is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank), and a fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy (think tank).

Jason Bordoff is a founding director for the Center on Global Energy Policy (think tank), a director at Winrock International, a special assistant to the President for the Barack Obama administration, and a senior director for energy & climate changefor the National Security Council.

Earl E. Devaney is a director at Winrock International, was an inspector general for the U.S. Department of the Interior, and the director of criminal enforcement for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Carol M. Brownerwas an administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the energy czar for the Barack Obama administration, a director at the Climate Reality Project, and is a director at the Center for American Progress.

Albert A. Gore Jr.is the chairman for the Climate Reality Project, his attorney was George T. Frampton Jr., and a donor for The Climate Project.

Alliance for Climate Protection is a merged organization with the Climate Reality Project.