DeclaringaNationalEnergyEmergency
DateIssued:January20,2025
Topic:EnvironmentalJustice,Transportation
WHATDOESTHISEXECUTIVEORDERDO?
Thisorderdeclaresanationalenergyemergencybyhighlightingthe UnitedStates’criticallyinadequatedomesticenergysupplyand infrastructure,whichhavedrivenupenergycostsandweakened nationalsecurity.
Theorderdirectsfederalagenciestoemployallavailableemergency andstatutoryauthorities—includingthoseundertheDefenseProduction Act,eminentdomain,andemergencypermittingprovisions to acceleratetheidentification,leasing,production,transportation,refining, andgenerationofdomesticenergyresources,therebysecuringan affordableandreliableenergysupplyforeconomic,industrial,and defenseneeds.
TheordercallsforexpeditedreviewsundertheCleanWaterActandthe EndangeredSpeciesActtofacilitateenergyprojectsandmandates coordinatedeffortsamongagenciestoassessandaddress vulnerabilitiesinenergyinfrastructure,withtargetedreportsandperiodic statusupdates.
HOWWILLTHISEXECUTIVEORDERBEENFORCED?
Enforcementofthisorderwilloccurthroughacoordinatedinteragencyeffort wheretheheadsofexecutivedepartmentsandagenciesarerequiredto identifyandutilizealllawfulemergencyauthoritiestoexpediteenergy infrastructureprojects.Specificmeasuresinclude:
TheuseofemergencypermittingprovisionsundertheCleanWaterActand associatedstatutes,withagenciesrequiredtoprovidesummaryand statusreportswithin30daysandeverysubsequent30daysthereafter.
Theconsultationandexpeditedprocessingofapplicationsunderthe EndangeredSpeciesAct,includingquarterlyreviewsofexemptionrequests.
AnassessmentbytheDepartmentofDefensewithin60daystoidentify vulnerabilitiesinenergyacquisitionandtransportation,with recommendationsforutilizingstatutoryconstructionauthorities(including thoseundertheNationalEmergenciesActandDefenseProductionAct).
EmergencyfuelwaiversbytheEnvironmentalProtectionAgency,in consultationwiththeSecretaryofEnergy,toaddresstemporarygasoline supplyshortfalls.Thesecoordinatedactions,reports,andconsultations, alongwiththeinvocationofeminentdomainandotherstatutorypowers,if necessary,willensurethatthegoalsofsecuringareliableandaffordable energysupplyaremetswiftly.
HOWDOESTHISIMPACTBLACKCOMMUNITIES?
TheTrumpadministration'sexecutiveordersonenergyhavesignificant andmultifacetedimplicationsforBlackcommunities.Ononehand,the expansionofdomesticfossilfuelproductionandenergyinfrastructure couldpotentiallylowerenergycostsandcreatejobs,whichmayoffer somerelieftolow-incomeandfixed-incomehouseholds,includingmany Blackfamilies.Energyaffordability,especiallyinmarginalized communities,isacriticalconcern,andtheadministration’sfocuson increasingenergysupplycouldhelpreducefinancialburdensinsome respects.
However,thelong-termeffectsofthesepoliciesraiseseriousconcerns. Theexpeditedpermittingprocessesandinvocationofemergency authoritiesallowenergyprojectstomoveforwardwithfewer environmentalreviews,potentiallyincreasingtheriskofpollutionand environmentaldegradation.Blackcommunities,whichhavehistorically beensituatednearhazardoussites,suchasindustrialfacilitiesandfossil fuelinfrastructure,aredisproportionatelyexposedtotheadverseeffects ofpollution,includingairandwatercontamination.Theseenvironmental risksexacerbateexistingpublichealthdisparitiesinBlack neighborhoods,whererespiratorydiseases,cardiovascularconditions, andotherclimate-relatedillnessesarealreadyprevalent.
Moreover,theTrumpadministration’semphasisonfossilfuels withouta correspondingfocusonrenewableenergy underminesprogresstoward acleanenergyeconomy,whichcouldhaveprovidedboth environmentalandeconomicbenefits.Therollbackofkeyenvironmental protectionsandtheexclusionofenvironmentaljusticefromenergy policiesdiminishthepotentialforBlackcommunitiestobenefitfrom greenjobsandinvestmentsincleanenergyinfrastructure.Thelackof climatefinanceforlow-incomecountriesandthediscontinuationof supportforrenewableenergydevelopmentfurtherhindereffortsto transitiontoamoresustainableenergysystemthatcouldaddressboth economicandenvironmentalinequities.
HOWDOESTHISIMPACTBLACKCOMMUNITIES?
TheAmericanAssociationofBlacksinEnergy(AABE)hasexpressed concernovertheadministration’sapproach,urgingabalancedstrategy thatincludesbothenergysecurityandenvironmentaljustice.The organizationrecognizestheimportanceofenergyindependencebut stressestheneedforpoliciesthatprotectvulnerablecommunitiesfrom theharmfuleffectsofenvironmentaldegradation.Withoutthese safeguards,Blackcommunitieswilllikelycontinuetofacehigherrisks frompollution,extremeweather,andthehealthimpactsassociatedwith climatechange.
Oxfam,initscondemnationofthenationalenergyemergency declaration,furtheremphasizesthedisproportionateimpactofthese policiesonvulnerablecommunities,particularlyBlack,Indigenous,and low-incomepopulations.Byprioritizingfossilfueldevelopmentand cuttingclimatefinance,theadministrationacceleratesclimatechange anddeepensexistinginequalities.Oxfamadvocatesforstrongerclimate commitments,investmentsinrenewableenergy,andlocalleadershipto counteracttheharmfuleffectsoffederalpolicies.Inthiscontext,Black communitiesareatriskofbeingleftbehind,facingthebruntof environmentalandhealthconsequenceswithouttheeconomicbenefits ofatransitioningenergyeconomy.
Ultimately,thepoliciessetforthbytheTrumpadministrationcreatea scenariowhereBlackcommunitiesfaceheightenedenvironmentaland healthrisks,limitedaccesstocleanenergyjobs,andalackof comprehensivesolutionstomitigateclimateimpacts.Amoreequitable approach,onethatbalancesenergyproductionwithrobust environmentalsafeguardsandinvestmentsinrenewableenergy,is necessarytoensureasustainableandjustfutureforBlackcommunities andothermarginalizedgroups.
HOWARECBCMEMBERSRESPONDING?
TheCongressionalBlackCaucus(CBC)hasledthefightfor environmentaljusticeinCongressforover40years.
TheenvironmentaljusticeobjectivesintheCBCagendaforthe118th Congresswereto“ensureequitableimplementationoftheInfrastructure ActandInflationReductionActwhilealsoadvocatingforincreased fundingtocreateefficientenergyprojectsandotherprophylactic measurestoremediatehistoricalenvironmentalinjustices.”Thisorder doesnotdiscusscleanenergyoracknowledgethedisproportionate impactofpollutiononBlackcommunities,twooftheCBC’skeypriorities.
ToreadmoreabouttheCBC’slegacyonenvironmentaljusticeissues, visitAvoice,ourvirtuallibrary.