DateIssued:January20,2025
Topic:EnvironmentalJustice,Transportation
WHATDOESTHISEXECUTIVEORDERDO?
Thisorderprioritizesfossilfuelproductionbyexpeditingoil,gas,and naturalresourcedevelopmentonfederallandsandwaters,revoking environmentalregulations,andeliminatingcleanenergymandates suchastheelectricvehicle(EV)requirement.
Theorderdirectsfederalagenciestostreamlinepermittingforenergy projects,restartliquefiednaturalgasexportapplicationreviews,and rescindclimatepoliciesthatpreviouslylimitedfossilfuelexpansion.
TheorderdismantlestheAmericanClimateCorpsandremoveskey environmentaljusticeprovisions,includingBiden-eraexecutiveorders focusedonaddressingthedisproportionateimpactofpollutionon marginalizedcommunities.Theordershiftsthenationalenergystrategy towardfossilfueldominance,reducingfederalsupportforrenewable energyandclimateaction.
HOWWILLTHISEXECUTIVEORDERBEENFORCED?
Enforcementwilloccurthroughfederalagencies,whichmustreview, revise,oreliminateregulationsthatimpedefossilfueldevelopment. Within30days,inconsultationwiththedirectoroftheOfficeof ManagementandBudget(OMB)andtheNationalEconomicCouncil submitactionplansforimplementingderegulationmeasures,ensuring thatpermittingprocessesareaccelerated.TheDepartmentofEnergywill restartliquefiednaturalgasexportapplicationreviews,andthe EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyisexpectedtorollbackemissions standardsandotherclimate-relatedpolicies.
TheAttorneyGeneralisinstructedtointerveneinlegalchallengesagainst environmentalpoliciestargetedforreversal.Federaldepartmentsare alsoexpectedtodeprioritizeclimateconsiderationsindecision-making, favoringpoliciesthatexpandoil,gas,andcoalproductionwhilelimiting federalinvestmentinrenewableenergyinfrastructure.
HOWDOESTHISIMPACTBLACKCOMMUNITIES?
ThisorderhascompleximplicationsforBlackcommunities.Whileincreased energyproductioncouldcreatejobsinfossilfuelindustries,theseeconomic benefitswillnotoutweightheenvironmentalandhealthrisksassociated withderegulation.Historically,Blackcommunitieshavebeen disproportionatelyaffectedbyindustrialpollution,withmanylocatednear powerplants,refineries,andotherhazardoussites.Theeliminationof environmentalsafeguardsandexpeditedpermittingforfossilfuelprojects couldincreaseexposuretoairandwatercontamination,exacerbating existinghealthdisparitiessuchasrespiratorydiseasesandcardiovascular conditions.
TheAmericanAssociationofBlacksinEnergy(AABE)acknowledgesthe TrumpAdministration’sfocusonenergyaffordability,nationalsecurity,and increaseddomesticproduction.Theorderacceleratesoil,gas,andnatural resourcedevelopmentbyeasingpermittingandregulatorybarriers,while thenationalenergyemergencydeclarationaimstosecuredomestic supplyduringglobalinstability.WhileAABEsupportsenergyindependence, itisdeeplyconcernedabouttherollbackofenvironmentaljustice protections,includingtherevocationofkeyBiden-eraexecutiveorderson climateandequity.Thesechangesremovecriticalsafeguardsfor vulnerablecommunitiesdisproportionatelyaffectedbypollutionand environmentaldegradation.
Theorderreinforcessystemicdisparitiesbyprioritizingfossilfuel corporationsoverfrontlinecommunities,neglectingtheneedforequitable energypolicies.Withouttargetedeffortstobalanceenergysecuritywith environmentaljustice,Blackcommunitiesareatriskofbearingthegreatest burdenfromincreasedpollution,climate-relateddisasters,andthelongtermeconomicconsequencesofafossilfuel-reliantenergystrategy.AABE urgesabalancedapproachthatensuresenergysecuritywithout compromisingenvironmentaljustice,advocatingforpoliciesthatprovide clean,affordable,andsustainableenergywhileprotectingpublichealth.
Moreover,therollbackofcleanenergyinitiativesincludingtheEVmandate andclimatefinanceprograms limitsopportunitiesforBlackworkersinthe growingrenewableenergysector,whichhasbeenapathwaytoeconomic mobility.
Theremovalofenvironmentaljusticemeasuresweakensprotectionsfor communitiesalreadyfacingthebruntofclimatechange,extremeweather, andpollution-relatedhealthrisks.
HOWARECBCMEMBERSRESPONDING?
TheCongressionalBlackCaucus(CBC)hasadvocatedforenergy efficiencybutalsoemphasizestheimportanceofinterventionsthat reducepollutioninmarginalizedcommunities.TheCBCendorsedboth theIIJAandtheIRA,andformerCBCChairRep.StevenHorsfordissued thisstatementafterdiscussingthelegislationwithBidenAdministration officialsin2023:“Thehistoricinfrastructurepackageisinvestingbillions acrossthecountrytocreategoodunionjobs,growoursmallbusinesses, andprotectourcommunitiesfromclimatechange.Ourdiscussionwith MitchLandrieufocusedonhowtheBipartisanInfrastructureLawwill createamoreequitableandjustfutureforallfamilies,especiallyBlack Americans.WewanttoensurethateverypartoftheAdministration involvedwiththedeploymentofthesefundsiskeepingafocusonthe localimpact,thelocaljobcreation,andthelocalinvestment.Working togetherwecanmakesurethishistoricinvestmentalsomeansthat transformationalchangefortheAmericanpeopleisontheway.”Full Statement
OnJanuary10,2025,Rep.TroyA.Carter,Sr.,1stViceChairoftheCBC, announced$30millioningrantsforhisdistrictthatwillsupportover100 electricvehiclechargersandanon-profitthatworkstobuildclimate resilienceinNewOrleans,acitythathasbeenravagedbynatural disasters.TheprojectswerefundedthroughtheInflationReductionAct (IRA)andtheInfrastructureInvestmentandJobsAct(IIJA),butthis executiveordersuspendedfundingformanyinfrastructureprojectsin communitiesofcolorthatwereallocatedthroughthosepiecesof legislation.
OnJanuary27,2025,morethan15CBCmemberssignedontoaletter askingPresidentTrumpandtheDirectoroftheOMBtodisclosewhich projectswerehaltedbythisexecutiveorder.
ToreadmoreabouttheCBC’slegacyonenvironmentaljusticeissues, visitAvoice,ourvirtuallibrary.
