DateIssued:April8,2025
Topic:EnvironmentalJustice,Energy
WHATDOESTHISEXECUTIVEORDERDO?
Thisexecutiveordercentralizesenergyregulationatthefederallevel.It directsthefederalgovernmenttodismantlewhatitviewsasunlawfulor overlyburdensomestateandlocalregulationsthatimpactthedevelopment anduseofdomesticenergyresources.Itpromotestheconceptof“American energydominance,”focusingonoil,gas,andcoal,butalsoincludesnuclear, hydropower,andothertraditionalenergysources.Thestatedgoalisto ensureareliableandaffordableenergysupply,whichtheorderframesas essentialtonationalandeconomicsecurity.
Theordertargetspoliciesthatimposeretroactivefines,delaypermitreviews, restrictcarbonemissionsthroughmechanismslikecap-and-trade,or penalizecompaniesthroughtortlawforcontributingtoclimatechange. StateslikeNewYork,Vermont,andCaliforniaaresingledoutforenacting climate-relatedlawsthattheAdministrationseesaspunitiveand ideologicallydriven,includingwhenstatesfilelawsuitsagainstenergy companiesfordamagesthatcontributetoclimatechange.Thesestate effortsaredescribedasattemptstoregulatebeyondtheirconstitutional authority,andthisorderlabelsthemasthreatstoeconomicgrowth, federalism,andenergyaffordabilityforallAmericans.
Theorderisnotjustcriticalofstateclimatepolicies;itisexplicitlystructured tochallengethemonlegalgrounds.Itframessuchpoliciesas unconstitutionalorpreemptedbyfederalauthority,particularlywherethey interferewithinterstatetradeorenergydevelopmentonfederalland.Italso portraysthesestatepoliciesasunderminingtheequalstandingofallstates undertheU.S.Constitutionbyallowingafewstatestoinfluencetheenergy decisionsofallstates.
HOWWILLTHISEXECUTIVEORDERBEENFORCED?
TheenforcementofthisorderhingesontheU.S.AttorneyGeneral,whois assignedtoreviewallrelevantstateandlocallaws,regulations,lawsuits, andpoliciesthatmayinterferewithdomesticenergydevelopment.In consultationwiththeheadsofexecutivedepartmentsandagencies,the AttorneyGeneralmustidentifythesemeasuresanddeterminewhether theyareunconstitutional,preemptedbyfederallaw,orotherwise unenforceable.Existing,proposed,andpendingpoliciesareallsubjectto review.
Uponidentificationofclimatelaws,theAttorneyGeneralmusttake immediateactiontostoptheirenforcement.Thefocusisparticularly sharponstatepoliciestiedtoclimatechange,carbonemissions,and environmentaljustice,wheretheorderassertsstateshaveoverstepped theirbounds.
Within60daysoftheorder’ssigning,theAttorneyGeneralmustsubmita detailedreporttothePresidentsummarizingactionstakenand recommendingadditionalsteps.Theserecommendationsmayinclude proposingnewlegislationorfurtherexecutiveactiontopreventstates fromenforcingpoliciesthefederalgovernmentdeemsillegal.Thisshort timelineandproactivemandatesuggestanaggressiveenforcement approachaimedatexpeditiouslyrollingbackclimate-relatedregulations atthestatelevel.
HOWDOESTHISIMPACTBLACKCOMMUNITIES?
TheimplicationsofthisorderforBlackcommunitiesaredeeply concerning.ManyBlackcommunitiesarelocatednearorwithinindustrial zones,hazardouswastesites,andareaswithhighpollutionlevelsfrom fossilfuelinfrastructure.Thesecommunitieshavehistoricallyfaced environmentalracism,astheyaredisproportionatelyexposedtotoxicair, water,andland.State-levelclimateandenvironmentaljusticelawshave beencriticaltoolsforaddressingthesedisparities,pushingforcleanerair, saferneighborhoods,andreparativepolicies.
Additionally,theorder’seconomicimpactcouldbedamaging.Climate policiesatthestateleveloftenincludejobtraining,greenenergy development,andinvestmentsinsustainableinfrastructureinitiatives thatcanprovidecareerpathwaysandeconomicopportunitiesfor historicallymarginalizedcommunities.Rollingbacktheseeffortsmeans missedopportunitiesforBlackworkersandentrepreneurstobenefitfrom thegrowinggreeneconomy.Theemphasisontraditionalenergy industries,whereBlackcommunitieshavebeenhistorically underrepresentedandoftenharmed,perpetuatesexistinginequities ratherthanimplementingequitableaccess.
Theorderalsounderminesstatecontrol.Manymunicipalitieswithlarge Blackpopulationshavedevelopedenvironmentalandclimatepoliciesto addressstateneeds.Thefederalgovernment'stop-downapproachstrips communitiesoftheabilitytodeterminehowbesttoprotectpublichealth andpursueenvironmentaljustice.Indoingso,theorderreinforces structuralinequalitiesbyprioritizingenergycorporationswhile marginalizingthevoicesofcommunitiesthathavelongshoulderedthe burdenofenvironmentalharm.
HOWARECBCMEMBERSRESPONDING?
TheCongressionalBlackCaucus(CBC)hasemphasizedtheimportance ofenergy-efficientinterventionsthatreducepollutioninmarginalized communities.OnJanuary10,2025,Rep.TroyA.CarterSr.,1stViceChairof theCBC,announced$30millioningrantsforhisdistricttosupportthe creationofover100electricvehiclechargersandanon-profitthatworks tobuildclimateresilienceinNewOrleans,acitythathasbeenravagedby naturaldisasters.OnJanuary20,2025,PresidentTrumpsignedan executiveordertosuspendfundingfortheseprojectsandmanyothers thatwerefundedthroughtheInflationReductionActandthe InfrastructureInvestmentandJobsAct.Thisexecutiveorderfurther erodesprotectionsforstatestakingproactivemeasurestoaddress climatechange,whichwillhavethelargestimpactoncommunitiesof coloracrossthecountry.
TheCBChasledthefightforenvironmentaljusticeinCongressforover40 years.ToreadmoreabouttheCBC’slegacyonenvironmentaljustice issues,visitAvoice,ourvirtuallibrary.