What matters more: America's economy or European climate radicalism?
Just hours after taking the Oath of Office, President Donald Trump gave the right answer. He withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Climate Accords, putting the growth and success of American communities and families ahead of the extreme and pointless demands of climate radicals. Almost simultaneously, Trump started slashing the outgoing administration's regulatory regime, which had stifled American energy, especially through its foolish ban on liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports.
These decisions bode well for America's future—a future that must be built on a foundation of energy dominance.
I say this as someone who's seen firsthand the difference American energy can make. My organization is headquartered in Pennsylvania, the country's second-largest natural gas producer. That industry supports thousands of jobs statewide. Without reliable energy sources like natural gas, Pennsylvania's economy would collapse, gutting entire communities and leaving families with soaring bills, fewer jobs, and less hope.
What's true for Pennsylvania is true for America. Our nation's economy is utterly and increasingly dependent on its abundant domestic energy supply—not just natural gas but also coal and nuclear power. They're far and away the most reliable sources for generating electricity. They make the price of almost everything cheaper for families. Natural gas has even become one of America's most valuable exports, not only strengthening our economy but also advancing our national security and reducing emissions.
But all these benefits have been threatened and weakened over the past four years. As one of his first acts as president, Joe Biden reentered the United States into the Paris Climate Accords. That foreign agreement effectively forces the U.S. to limit its energy production.
But Biden's acquiescence to foreign decision-makers was just the opening salvo of an all-out attack on American energy. The Biden administration also prohibited LNG export expansion and enacted heavy-handed regulations on energy producers and power plants. All these executive actions undermined Pennsylvania's primary competitive edge and threatened economic growth across America.
Trump is right to reverse these policies. He'll usher in a new era of energy innovation and infrastructure from Pennsylvania to Texas to Alaska and beyond. The president also took day-one steps to streamline federal permitting so that new energy projects could get off the ground much quicker. Without this reform, many energy projects would be delayed for years, if not decades—the opposite of energy dominance.
These common-sense policies will make life more affordable, strengthening families and businesses alike. And that surely explains why they're popular, too. New polling from my organization shows that 84 percent of Pennsylvanians support ending the LNG export ban—a finding that holds across the country.
Hopefully, Trump is just getting started. There are plenty of harmful regulations left to shred, including the Biden-era power-plant rule that will drive reliable coal and natural gas energy plants out of business. That foolish rule will further cripple our power grids while raising costs for every American. For the sake of family wallets, that mandate must go as soon as possible.
But President Trump shouldn't have to do all the work alone. Congress should support him by passing a resolution affirming America's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accords. Lawmakers should do the same thing for his reversal of the LNG ban and permitting reforms. That stability of federal law will make it harder for future administrations to bring back those failed policies and ensure a reliable and affordable energy future.
It would also help if state leaders—including Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro—were to slash the state's red tape that stifles energy. Like Biden, Shapiro has actively proposed new energy taxes and put eco-fundamentalism ahead of the practical needs of families and businesses. He's undermining energy dominance—despite his state and country desperately needing it.
America must unleash the full potential of our vast energy resources. President Donald Trump is well on his way to making this vision a reality. As failed policies like the Paris Climate Accord and the Green New Deal fade into the distance, cities like Pittsburgh, states like Pennsylvania, and ultimately, every American will soon arrive at a brighter future.
André Béliveau is the Senior Manager of Energy Policy at the Commonwealth Foundation, Pennsylvania's free-market think tank.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
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