Renewables in the USA no priority for new American government

Renewables in the USA no priority for new American government

The new American president Donald J. Trump has released a first statement regarding the government’s energy plans. It puts clear emphasis on shale oil and completely ignores renewables in the USA.

 

Following President Trump’s recent inauguration, a glimpse at the new governments energy plans was among the first things on the President’s agenda. The declaration, consisting of 337 words, clearly expresses a preference for shale oil, traditional oil and natural gas, while completely ignoring renewable energy sources and thus switching the course to the complete opposite as before.

 

Change from campaign plans

During the Trump-Pence campaign, a detailed energy plan for the (then still uncertain) presidency was released, which included the following passage: “The Trump energy policy will make us energy independent, create millions of new jobs, and protect clean air and clean water. We have one of the world’s most diverse resource bases – from abundant coal, oil, and natural gas to geothermal, solar, and wind. We are also the world’s leader in energy technologies like nuclear power.“.

Now, however, there is no mention of renewables in the USA in the new statement, which says: “The Trump Administration will embrace the shale oil and gas revolution to bring jobs and prosperity to millions of Americans. We must take advantage of the estimated $50 trillion in untapped shale, oil, and natural gas reserves, especially those on federal lands that the American people own.“

 

Signs of plans during campaign speeches

While this new course the government is steering towards may come as an unpleasant surprise to some solar power supporters, first signs could be detected in the speeches Trump gave during his campaign. He repeatedly claimed that solar power didn’t work and was too expensive and that wind energy would kill all the birds – unfazed by evidence that proves the opposite.

 

First steps taken against renewables in the USA

A few first steps towards this new course were already taken, for example, with the elimination of the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Former president Barack Obama would disagree with these new developments, as his 8-year presidency was partly dedicated to the growth of the renewable energy sector.

Whether renewables will no longer be part of the picture remains to be seen. It seems to be rather likely, though, that difficult times are ahead for these valuable energy sources.

 

Title image: Jürgen from Sandesneben, Germany (Flickr) [CC BY 2.0,via Wikimedia Commons