‘Promises kept’: American energy dominance has advanced in Trump’s first year

By Tate Miller
The Center Square

A year into President Donald Trump’s second term, American energy dominance has advanced as promised, confirmed by affordable power and reliable energy, and seen in the termination of the war on coal, according to energy advocates.

Spokesman for energy workers advocacy group Power the Future Larry Behrens told The Center Square that “one year of President Trump’s American Energy Dominance agenda is delivering what decades of green failures never could: affordable power and real global strength.”

“One year ago, our 4-year unwanted subscription to the Green New Scam was cancelled and not a moment too soon,” Behrens said.

“American Energy Dominance doesn’t happen by accident, it is the result of putting our workers, families and national security ahead of destructive climate mandates,” Behrens said.

America’s Power President and CEO Michelle Bloodworth stressed to The Center Square the importance of Trump’s moves to bring reliable energy back into the power equation, coal in particular.

“Since taking office, President Trump has taken concrete steps to restore America’s energy dominance by recognizing the essential role of coal alongside other dependable energy sources,” Bloodworth told The Center Square.

“His administration has started to reverse policies forcing the premature retirement of coal-fired power plants and has emphasized an all-of-the-above energy strategy centered on reliability, affordability, and domestic production,” Bloodworth said.

America’s Power is a national trade organization that advocates on behalf of the U.S. coal fleet, according to its website.

Bloodworth explained to The Center Square that “for American families, energy dominance includes ensuring affordable electricity and reliable service, especially during periods of extreme weather.”

“Coal-fired power plants provide around-the-clock, fuel-secure electricity that helps stabilize prices and prevent blackouts,” Bloodworth said.

“By working to keep these plants operating, the President’s approach helps protect households – particularly low- and middle-income families – from rising electric bills and unreliable power,” Bloodworth said.

Additionally, Bloodworth stated that “as electricity demand grows rapidly from data centers, artificial intelligence, and electrification, the importance of coal cannot be ignored.”

“Coal plants provide dependable baseload power and on-site fuel security, and preserving America’s coal fleet is one of the most immediate and cost-effective ways to maintain grid reliability, strengthen national security, and support economic growth,” Bloodworth said.

The U.S. Department of Energy issued a release outlining “promises made, promises kept” in regards to energy one year into the Trump administration’s second term.

“With President Trump and Secretary Wright’s leadership, the Energy Department has ushered in an unprecedented era of energy dominance, resulting in record energy production and more affordable prices,” a department news release said.

The release notes how gas prices have reached a five-year low of $2.80 a gallon, the U.S. is leading in oil production – producing more than Russia and Saudi Arabia combined – as well as in natural gas, and how the nation has withdrawn from conservation standards so that costs are lowered and consumer choice is restored.

The release mentions Trump’s ending the war on “beautiful, clean” coal and strengthening the fossil fuel’s role in “powering America,” as well as describes efforts in the nuclear energy field.

“The next American Nuclear Renaissance has arrived,” the release said.

“DOE has taken numerous actions to accelerate the development of next generation nuclear technology and restore domestic supply chains,” the release said.

Additionally, the release stated that over the past year, U.S. national security has been made “a priority by reducing U.S. dependence on foreign supply chains.”

The Department of Energy has not yet responded to The Center Square’s two requests for comment.