Interior secretary tilts energy policy toward fossil fuels, sidelining renewables

A push for fossil fuel dominance is reshaping U.S. energy policy under Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, leaving wind, solar, and carbon capture outside fast-tracked development plans.

Ian M. Stevenson and Carlos Anchondo report for E&E News.

In short:

• Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, once an advocate for carbon neutrality and renewables as North Dakota’s governor, is now backing policies that favor fossil fuel expansion under President Trump.
• A new emergency permitting plan speeds up approval for oil, gas, and mineral projects while excluding wind, solar, and carbon capture — moves critics say reflect bias and will invite legal challenges.
• Environmental groups argue that the administration is favoring wealthy fossil fuel corporations over rural communities, while industry groups praise efforts to accelerate permitting for traditional energy sources.

Key quote:

“The country is producing far more oil and gas than it can use while experiencing a clean energy boom. It is clear that the administration is pandering to fossil fuel corporations already flush with tremendous wealth while denying Americans [a voice] — especially farmers, ranchers, and other rural Americans throughout the West most affected by fossil energy projects.”

— Barbara Vasquez, board chair, Western Organization of Resource Councils

Why this matters:

The shift away from an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy signals a dramatic federal turn toward fossil fuels at a time when global climate impacts and energy transition efforts are accelerating. Excluding wind, solar, and carbon capture technologies from fast-track permitting processes could suppress investment in renewables, hinder emissions reduction goals, and stall innovation just as extreme weather events, droughts, and air quality issues intensify across the country. Interior’s influence over public lands also means that vast swaths of American territory may be opened to fossil fuel extraction without comprehensive environmental reviews to consider impacts on resources like water and biodiversity.

Related: Trump’s push to sway Europe on fossil fuels clashes with clean energy momentum