WYOMING – The Wyoming delegation representing an energy-dependent state reacted predictably to President Trump’s signing today of the Energy Independence executive order that the President hopes will promote energy independence and economic growth, while it repeals some of the energy/climate policies put in place by the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan.
“I welcome the important steps taken today by President Trump to terminate some of the Obama administration’s devastating energy policies. Obama-era policies aimed to destroy our fossil fuel industry. They killed jobs and threatened economic instability in communities across the country and especially in Wyoming. In particular, the coal moratorium, imposed by the Obama Administration and lifted today by President Trump, was nothing short of a war on coal miners and their families,” Rep. Liz Cheney said in a press release.
U.S. Senator Mike Enzi stated, “President Trump’s decision is great for Wyoming and all those who rely on affordable energy. These regulations and actions from the last Administration were bad for American families and many of them overstepped the federal government’s power to regulate. They targeted our most reliable energy sources and would raise American energy costs. The industries they hurt the most employ many Wyoming citizens and we should be working to help support those jobs, not looking for ways to put those workers out of business. It is important that we review the steps taken by the Obama Administration that placed excessively burdensome or unnecessary regulations on the energy sector.”
Enzi had sent a letter previously with U.S. Senators Steve Daines, R-Mont., John Barrasso, R-Wyo., Cory Gardner, R-Colo., and Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, urging President Trump to terminate the moratorium on new federal coal leasing.
“It is an important day for energy-producing states like Wyoming,” U.S. Senator John Barrasso said in a prepared statement to the press. “The Obama administration’s punishing regulations have done far more harm to our economy than good for the environment. I applaud President Trump for taking action on behalf of America’s families and energy workers. Federal agencies will now have the opportunity to identify ways to improve the environment without hurting job growth.”
Wyoming Governor Matt Mead also expressed appreciation today for President Trump’s executive order supporting domestic energy independence.
“Wyoming has been at the front of the fight for coal and better research on coal technologies. The Clean Power Plan shut down many research opportunities,” Mead said. “It is my fundamental belief that advancements in coal must continue. Coal is an important resource to Wyoming and the world. We want to not only be a leader in production, but to lead in research on effective alternative uses for coal and carbon dioxide.”
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