A national emergency gives the president "additional powers," Domonoske explains. "A Trump administration official speaking on condition of anonymity said the 'national energy emergency will unlock a variety of different authorities that will enable our nation to quickly build again, to produce coal and natural resources, to create jobs, to create prosperity, and to strengthen our nation's national security.'"
According to the Brennan Center, "which has researched emergency powers, statutes grant the president the authority to suspend some environmental regulations or impose restrictions on crude oil exports," Domonoske writes. "No president has ever declared a national energy emergency.'"
The U.S. has plenty of fossil fuels available and a glut of global supply could depress energy prices. Domonoske reports, "The U.S. is a net exporter of fossil fuels, producing more oil and gas than any other country in the world. . . . Many analysts currently project that the world as a whole is facing a near-term oversupply of oil and natural gas."
However, the pressure on the U.S. electrical grid is a worry. "Trump dd not specifically focus on this concern in his speech, but he could use emergency authorities to try to keep open power plants that are slated to close for economic or environmental reasons," Domonoske adds. "He has historically expressed support for coal plants in particular."
During his inaugural speech, Trump said, "'We will bring prices down," Domonoske reports. "On the campaign trail he repeatedly promised to lower energy prices by 50%. . . . That's an improbable target, analysts say. . . . Policy changes can influence prices at the pump and electricity prices, and a smaller decrease in costs is certainly in the realm of possibility. But it's not simple."
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