America’s Energy Dominance in the Trump II Administration

The Biden-Harris administration has retrenched the U.S. energy industry in the mistaken belief that it is the source, not the solution, to 21st century challenges. In contrast, the second Trump administration will pursue American energy dominance through energy growth (aptly captured by the popular phrase “drill, baby, drill”). The United States must restore a mentality of abundance in which American energy and innovation are unleashed to deliver economic prosperity, protect national security, and enhance American leadership on the global stage. Energy dominance is a true echo of the American spirit.

The Error of Climate Catastrophism

Yet the Biden-Harris National Security Strategy presents climate change as “the greatest existential threat of our time.” Their policies—a forced, government-mandated transition to renewable energy—put the United States in line with other governments willing to spend exorbitant amounts of money in pursuit of an elusive net-zero solution. Yet despite estimated global spending of $125 trillion to $275 trillion, fossil fuels will continue to be the backbone of the U.S. and global economies. For example, the Energy Information Administration’s 2022 annual report puts fossil fuels at 79 percent of U.S. energy use in 2021. By 2050, that would fall to just 74 percent.

The changing climate is a reality, but not an existential threat. A 2022 white paper from the Biden-Harris Council of Economic Advisers and the Office of Management and Budget found that Americans would be 1.71 times richer over 25 years without climate change’s impact on GDP, but only 1.66 times richer if climate damages were included. The 2023 white paper projected that by 2050, the U.S. debt-to-GDP ratio would be 111.2 percent under a net-zero emissions scenario and 112.6 percent under a high-emissions scenario. Given that these reports do not factor in U.S. GDP growth, American innovation, or Biden’s progressive tax system, it’s fair to say that economic conditions are very conservative. A prominent scientist and Obama administration official has commented that these differences are getting “lost in the noise.”

Policies that discourage exploration, block energy infrastructure construction, and raise regulatory barriers are self-defeating, creating a false trade-off between climate security and economic prosperity and national security. They undermine the ability of the U.S. energy sector to attract investment, maintain grid reliability, and deliver affordable energy to average Americans and industries struggling to build a more secure global supply chain—free from dependence on China.

The Freedom Project

Energy dominance is not just about energy production; it is about ensuring America is free—free from foreign energy dependence, free to pursue robust economic growth, and free to pursue a foreign policy unencumbered by energy uncertainty. Under the Trump Administration, this principle will be reinvigorated, positioning the United States as an energy superpower with the strength to confidently pursue its global interests. Energy dominance reflects President Nixon’s “Independence Project” in the 1970s. The rapid expansion of production and other initiatives that followed freed consumers from the whims of OPEC and the paralyzing effects of energy uncertainty, including inflation.

At its core, energy dominance rejects the false Biden-Harris premise that our continued economic growth threatens the future of humanity. Instead, it embraces the compatibility of environmental security and economic prosperity. In fact, according to the 2023 Statistical Review of World Energy, the United States has led the world in reducing emissions for the past fifteen years, thanks to American natural gas. This is not the government’s doing. American industry operating and innovating in a free and competitive market has led the way in reducing emissions.

On the other hand, government “leadership,” or rather intervention, in the form of renewable mandates, incentives, subsidies, and overregulation, is at the root of our current crisis of grid reliability, energy insecurity, and dependence on China. The ultimate question is whether Americans want a government that empowers industry innovation and growth, or micromanages it.

Abundant energy underpins the U.S. economy, fueling growth and innovation, creating jobs, and reducing inflation. It gives America the strength to counter adversaries, supports allies with reliable energy exports, and reinforces American power. In a world increasingly defined by the confrontation between the free world and the China-Russia-Iran axis, American energy dominance gives the United States the confidence and capabilities needed to win the contest.

Revitalization of the US energy sector

The importance of a growth-oriented national energy policy cannot be overstated. Energy is the lifeblood of the economy, driving household savings, corporate profitability, GDP growth, and job creation. Market disruptors from artificial intelligence to advanced manufacturing demand vast amounts of affordable, reliable energy. A second Trump administration should focus on three key proposals to ensure that the U.S. energy sector is positioned for long-term success.

Reducing Industry Regulation

The first step must be to remove unnecessary regulations that constrain industry and discourage investment. By taking a holistic approach to growth that considers the future needs and well-being of Americans, Trump would create an environment in which the energy sector can meet the ambitions of American entrepreneurs and families. Streamlining the permitting process would also boost innovation across the energy spectrum, from traditional energy sources to advanced nuclear reactors. Manufacturing capacity is just one example of the many things that are inextricably linked to energy reliability and affordability, as summarized in a recent congressional committee hearing. President Trump’s bold and necessary solution is to declare a national emergency on America’s energy access and availability crisis—drastically increasing production, generation, and supply, while reversing the anti-growth policies of the Biden-Harris era.

Strategic Paths to Cleaner Energy

The Trump administration has recognized the need for clean energy systems. But it has critically rejected the notion that this must come at the expense of economic growth and has taken an “all of the above” approach to energy. It has outlined paths to clean energy by supporting the integration and generation of natural gas and by accelerating and responsible deployment of nuclear power from micro- to large-scale reactors. These bipartisan solutions will not only reduce carbon emissions but also strengthen America’s energy infrastructure without playing into the hands of its opponents.

Limiting government interference

To ensure that the United States remains competitive internationally, a reorientation of federal departments and agencies is essential. Virtually every federal department and agency currently has the potential to hinder energy production and infrastructure deployment—and often does so. It is essential that U.S. public officials are aligned with the energy growth goals of the American people, not with the agendas of a minority of activists who are determined to sacrifice American greatness on the altar of climate change. Reforms in federal lending practices, embodied in the Treasury Department, the Development and Finance Corporation, and the Export-Import Bank, are essential. Even fundamental reforms, such as a fundamental overhaul of the Foreign Trade Service to actively support all U.S. energy industries, are essential. U.S. public officials should never unwittingly serve Chinese economic interests.

Energy as a strategic tool

A sound foreign energy policy is essential to maintaining America’s economic strength, which in turn is the foundation of its military power. By ensuring abundant energy supplies, the Trump administration would lower global energy prices through supply-side economics to weaken the economies of expansionist powers like Russia and Iran, and confidently implement sanctions against adversaries like Iran and Venezuela without affecting the U.S. economy.

Tools for ensuring peace and stability

A Trump administration would continue to use energy as a strategic tool for peace and prosperity—providing America’s allies with reliable alternatives. Bolstered by new peaks in energy production, this approach enables tactical use of sanctions and tariffs rather than the flawed approach of liberally implementing sanctions while undermining the economics that make them effective. A Trump administration could pressure Russia to end its aggression in Ukraine, Iran to curb its nuclear ambitions and state-sponsored terrorism, and Venezuela to curb its dictatorial and oppressive regime. Energy dominance supports the effective use of economic tools that the United States can wield against adversaries, reducing their options and forcing them to negotiate.

Exiting restrictive international agreements

In addition to withdrawing from restrictive international agreements like the Paris Agreement, the Trump administration could also seek to withdraw from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It should treat any further agreements on the matter as treaties and submit them for review and ratification by Congress—rather than bypassing the will of the American people as represented in Congress. This move would restore American sovereignty, allowing the United States to reform its global engagement in organizations like the International Energy Agency (IEA) or disengage from organizations like the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

Expansion of LNG production and export

Expanding LNG production and exports would be a key Trump priority. This strategy would give Europe an alternative to Russian gas and provide much-needed reliable energy to support the economic growth of developing countries, particularly America’s partners in Southeast Asia. By expanding its position as the world’s leading LNG exporter, the United States can increase its global influence while also fueling domestic growth.

Securing America’s Future Through Energy Dominance

America’s current trajectory – continuing a defeatist energy policy dictated by climate catastrophism – threatens to further undermine US economic stability and global influence.