WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – The Trump administration is working to speed up the approval process for oil and gas projects.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum is leading the effort. He praised the president during his cabinet meeting this week.
“Your first day in office, you wisely declared a national energy emergency,” Burgum said.
That declaration, Secretary Burgum says, has let his department fast-track oil, gas and mining projects on public lands. Reviews that could take up to two years are now expected to take a matter of weeks.
“We’re treating our natural resources like the American balance sheet they are,” Burgum said.
The expedited approvals don’t apply to energy sources like solar or wind projects. Burgum says the tax credits connected to them incentivize less reliable energy.
“…which have created a dangerous situation for our national power grid,” Burgum said last week at Semafor’s 2025 World Economy Summit.
Congressman Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) pushed back on the plan.
“This is outrageous. I mean, my God, the climate crisis is not going away,” Huffman said. “This is a naked giveaway to fossil fuel. And it’s all done under the guise of an energy emergency, which is fake.”
Burgum says the emergency is not having enough power to compete with adversaries.
“We need more of it immediately. We need more electricity to win the AI arms race against China,” Burgum said.
Burgum says he views America’s energy resources as assets that could ultimately pay down the national debt.
“That saves everybody that’s listening and their children and their children’s children,” Burgum said.
Huffman says future generations need a clean planet.
“These folks are playing with the livability of our planet for our kids and our grandkids,” Huffman said.
He expects the plan won’t hold up in court.
“They will be sued, and they will lose,” Huffman said.
Burgum says he thinks it will hold up, “We’re very confident.”
Source: Fox 8 News Channel
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