Ian Brickey, ian.brickey@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As one of his first acts of the new administration, Donald Trump’s Interior Department issued a secretarial order effectively pausing approvals for all clean energy projects on public lands and waters for 60 days. The Order prevents agencies within DOI from issuing “any onshore or offshore renewable energy authorization, including but not limited to a lease, amendment to a lease, right of way, amendment to a right of way, contract, or any other agreement required to allow for renewable energy development.”
Many of Trump’s Day One actions as president addressed his so-called “energy emergency,” attacking clean energy production while boosting oil and gas companies. One executive order attempted to block all offshore wind projects, while another opened vast areas of Alaska landscapes to drilling, mining, and logging. Contrary to Trump’s claims, statistics indicate that American oil production is at an all-time high.
In response, Athan Manuel, director of Sierra Club’s Lands Protection Program, released the following statement:
“Blocking the fastest growing sources of low-cost energy is an odd way to respond to an ‘energy emergency.’ The real energy emergency is Donald Trump’s job-killing actions that will raise our energy bills while lining the pockets of his wealthy corporate polluter buddies. Public lands and waters should be managed for the benefit of all Americans, not as giveaways for a handful of corporate polluters.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.