Trump and Harris Diverge on U.S. Energy Policy Ahead of Elections
As the United States prepares for the presidential election next Tuesday, the energy policies of Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris present a sharp contrast. Both candidates express a desire to increase production and keep consumer prices low, but their approaches differ significantly, especially regarding climate change.
Trump aims to enhance the U.S.'s dominance in fossil fuel production by reducing regulations he believes restrict oil, gas drilling, and coal mining. His campaign argues that during his previous term, he enabled a boom in oil and gas production in regions like the Permian Basin, contending that reversing the Biden administration's climate initiatives could sustain this trend.
Harris, on the other hand, supports the continuation of high oil and gas production as a means to guide the U.S. energy transition toward lower-emission sources. She has shifted her stance on fracking since the 2020 presidential race, opposing a ban on this technology, which is responsible for significant increases in U.S. production.
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 is another point of contention. Trump has indicated a desire to withdraw unspent funds from the IRA, which could affect subsidies for electric vehicles and renewable energy sources. In contrast, Harris defends the IRA, emphasizing the need for continued investments in clean energy.
International climate efforts are also a dividing point. Trump, who withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Agreement during his previous term, has stated he would do so again. Harris, however, supports the agreement in line with the Biden administration's decision to rejoin in 2021.
Regarding the country's electric grid, Trump's campaign criticizes the Biden-Harris administration's regulations targeting pollution from power plants, claiming that these could lead to energy shortages and exacerbate inflation. He proposes declaring a national emergency to expedite approvals for energy infrastructure. Harris aims to streamline permitting as well but focuses on low or zero-emission projects.
In transportation, Trump opposes recent U.S. automobile emissions regulations and vows to terminate the offshore wind industry despite his previous support during his first term. In contrast, Harris advocates for the development of offshore wind energy and the adoption of electric vehicles.
Finally, the Biden-Harris administration's freeze on new liquefied natural gas (LNG) export permits has been a significant move regarding environmental impact assessments. Trump has expressed his intention to lift this freeze immediately, while Harris's position is to await the results of the anticipated environmental review after the election.
The candidates' energy policies reflect broader themes in the U.S. political debate on energy and climate issues and have important implications for local and global efforts to address climate change.