New administration officials say the president is ready to sign a declaration of “national energy emergency.” The measure would fit a campaign promise, made under the slogan “drill, baby, drill,” of raising oil and gas production significantly all over the country.
An advisor told the basis of the decision. “High energy costs are a needless consequence of policy decisions. We feel that those costs have been punitive to the American public over the past four years and must be rectified to ensure national prosperity.”
The national average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas is currently at $3.125, down from a record high of $5.016 in June 2022, according to AAA. When asked about expected decreases in oil prices during Trump’s presidency, his advisers did not provide specific targets.
Trump also is set to sign a separate executive order on an ambitious agenda he campaigned on as promising “affordable and reliable American energy.” The president’s advisor commented on the importance of broad-reaching energy cost savings, noting, “Energy costs affect every part of our economy. Reducing those costs are as important to national security as economic growth. More importantly, to really maintain the United States energy dominance.”
Another new executive order in the pipeline would address increasing oil production in Alaska. This program will be assisting the liquefication of natural gas ready for export from Alaska to other regions of the US and allies in the Asia Pacific. The state will hence play a central role in energy exports.
Trump’s move reveals a new paradigm shift in the US energy policy marked by domestic production, future new international energy power.