Executive order targets state laws that impede energy production
President Donald Trump
April 15, 2025
BY Erin Voegele
President Donald Trump on April 8 issued an executive order that aims to protect oil, natural gas, coal, hydropower, geothermal, biofuel, critical mineral, and nuclear energy resources from state overreach.
The executive order stresses Trump’s commitment to unleash American energy through the removal of illegitimate impediments to the identification, development, siting, production, investment in, or use of these domestic energy resources.
Within the order, Trump cites examples of “burdensome and ideologically motivated ‘climate change’ or energy policies” implemented by states “that threaten American energy dominance and our economic and national security.” This includes New York’s Climate Change Superfund Act, Vermont’s Climate Superfund Act, and California’s Cap-and-Trade Program.
Under the executive order, the Attorney General is directed to identify “state laws purporting to address ‘climate change’ or involving ‘environmental, social, and governance’ initiatives, ‘environmental justice,’ carbon or ‘greenhouse gas’ emissions, and funds to collect carbon penalties or carbon taxes,” and take appropriate action to stop enforcement of any such laws that are determined to be illegal.
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A full copy of the executive order is available on the Federal Register website.
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