President Trump’s Energy Independence Policy is offering hope to local officials and industry leaders. The White House Office of the Press Secretary released details of the policy on Tuesday stating that the Obama Administration burdened Americans with costly regulations that harmed American jobs and energy production. The new policy in contrast provides much needed reform in rolling back such regulations. President Trump made it clear that he is lifting the “restrictions on American energy” to “allow this wealth to pour into our communities.” The policy came this week in the form of an Executive Order that directs the EPA to suspend, revise or rescind four actions related to the Clean Power Plan, as well as rescind Obama’s climate change agenda and review any conduct that harms domestic energy production. Among many other things, the policy gives Presidential permit to resolve roadblocks to the Keystone XL Pipeline construction and allows the Dakota Access Pipeline to complete its construction. Duchesne County Commissioner Ron Winterton says he sees President Trump’s efforts as very positive for the Uintah Basin. “I see good things in their approach in trying to get energy production going so Americans can get back to doing what we do,” says Winterton. “There is a new mentality in the government and I believe President Trump and his administration know what it takes to be successful.” The rolling back of Obama’s Clean Power Plan is expected to make a huge financial impact in communities across the country, including locally. The plan costs up to $39 billion dollars a year and has caused coal production to fall by 242 million tons. It could also bring a speedy conclusion to federal lawsuits from 27 states, 24 trade associations, 37 rural electric co-ops, and 3 labor unions challenging the Clean Power Plan. The policy directs federal agencies to establish Regulatory Reform Task Forces to identify costly and unnecessary regulations in need of modifications and repeal. Commissioner Winterton is among many locals hopeful that economic recovery in the Uintah Basin is now possible with the scaleback of federal government overreach.
