President-elect Donald Trump has promised to expand oil and gas production by opening up more public land for drilling and hydraulic fracturing, among other things. he also promised “Clear, clean water.” The problem is that these two goals are often in conflict.
President Trump's “Drill, Baby, Drill” agenda hinges on proposing legislation that would make it easier to greenlight energy projects. Energy Permit Reform Act of 2024. The bill, currently before the Senate, proposes sweeping changes to energy development. Rapid approval will be prioritized over a thorough review of environmental impacts, including threats to water quality. It would also reduce the time allowed for legal challenges to energy projects from six years to just 150 days, making it harder for communities to challenge government agencies and have their voices heard.
The mastermind behind the bill is Sen. Joe Manchin (Idaho, Virginia), a longtime friend of the fossil fuel industry. Manchin and his co-sponsor, Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), touted the bill as an “all of the above” approach that promotes renewable energy as well as fossil fuels. In fact, the bill would boost renewable energy by accelerating approvals for transmission lines that connect solar and wind farms to electricity customers. However, the environmental benefits of this legislation will be far outweighed by the expansion of fossil fuel development and new threats to the safety and quality of water resources.
The risk is especially high in the Great Lakes region. 21 percent of the world's surface freshwater. The Energy Permit Reform Act would significantly expand fossil fuel drilling on public lands, increasing the potential for spills, leaks, and toxic spills that could damage critical freshwater resources. This would allow private companies to claim thousands of acres of public land owned by Americans for the extraction and storage of toxic mining waste. This toxic waste leaching acid It flows into rivers and aquifers, endangering fish and wildlife. The bill would also extend the length of drilling permits, extending the amount of time communities are exposed to pollution from fossil fuel development.
So far, this dangerous bill has not been stopped from proceeding, despite concerns raised by environmentalists. Mr. Manchin moved the bill quickly and strategically through the floor. In August, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee advanced the bill on a bipartisan 15-4 vote.
The bill is likely to be introduced on the Senate floor during the current lame-duck session before the next Congress begins. The bill would have a better chance of passing if Republicans take full control of Congress in January.
There's still time to stop this harmful law. In fact, there is no need to ease regulations on fossil fuel production. The United States has already largest oil and gas producer Despite environmental protections and drilling restrictions on federal lands, the world.
What we need is a unique commitment to renewable energy, not laws that force us to rely more on fossil fuels. And we must uphold hard-won environmental regulations to protect the clear, clean water on which all life depends.
Jill Ryan is the executive director of Freshwater Future, a Petoskey, Michigan-based nonprofit organization that works to protect the waters of the Great Lakes region.
