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President Trump campaigned on a platform to make American energy great again.

 North Dakota, referring to fossil fuel reserves. By unleashing those reserves and slashing regulations, Trump promised, he would usher in an era of "energy independence" and, ultimately, American energy dominance.


Other than the massive tax reform bill in Congress, Trump's legislative victories have so far been few and far between. On energy and environment, however, Trump is slowly making headway, with help from a trio of powerful and like-minded cabinet members.

proposed subsidizing struggling coal and nuclear electricity generating plants

 and has delayed measures to boost energy efficiency that were supposed to take effect this year.
The head of the Environmental Protection Agency, Scott Pruitt, has 

erased climate change from agency priorities

 and is filling the ranks of political appointees with people who have previously lobbied against a slew of environmental regulations.
Finally, at the Interior Department, Secretary Ryan Zinke is 

 while opening up more federal lands to drilling and mining.


Here are some major actions of the Trump administration to date:


Trump famously called climate change a hoax and many of his cabinet members and political appointees 

 actions, to reverse many of the environmental regulations and rules the previous administration put into place. Some examples:


The EPA has also moved to repeal a number of rules, or put them under review with the intent to revise, including:

Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth"

 called for promoting "clean and safe" development of energy resources while "avoiding regulatory burdens that unnecessarily encumber energy production." Here are a few things that have been done that aim to accomplish those goals:



When President Trump was first elected, few energy analysts believed he could bring back the coal industry, or reverse the momentum of renewable energy. But,

 coal's fortunes have improved this past year

 due to a stronger export market, and the effort to repeal the Clean Power Plan. Still, experts foresee a long-term decline. Coal-fired electricity plants are too expensive compared to natural gas, and are

 despite full-throated support from the administration. Lifting the moratorium on new coal leases on federal land has not resulted in a single new coal lease in Wyoming, according to Travis Deti, head of the Wyoming Mining Association.
Likewise, at least some oil and gas lease sales on federal land have been met with a tepid response from industry. In December, only

 for parcels on over 10 million acres offered in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, less than one percent of the acreage for sale. Similarly, a

 for 94,000 acres left 40,000 acres without an acceptable minimum bid.



Still, while renewable energy such as solar and wind continues to expand, some things suggest challenges ahead:

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Alisa Barba

Author

President Trump and a trio of cabinet members have made headway in their campaign for American fossil fuel "energy dominance." This might slow renewable energy, but it won't bring back coal.

Trump's busy year on energy and environment

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