Donald Trump recently gave a major speech on his energy agenda laying out his policy goals at a high level, and goals that generally reflect Republican positions, including:
• Opposition to climate change mitigation policies, such as the Paris accords and the Clean Power Plan.
•Disagreement with renewable energy such as wind power and showing support for the coal industry and its workers.
•Support for the Keystone Pipeline. However, he also supports a policy that allows the U.S. to get a cut of the profits in exchange for the necessary federal permit.
•Focus on energy independence and a commitment to eliminate any reliance on the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
However, Trump's agenda lacks detail. Without more particulars, it is difficult to know how Trump would achieve many of these goals. Some policy priorities would run into logistical challenges almost immediately. For example, he said he would repeal the Clean Power Plan and the Waters of the U.S. regulation in his first 100 days in office. But making rapid changes to rules already in place would be nearly impossible. Similarly, complete independence from OPEC oil is considered impossible by most energy experts and blocking supplies from OPEC would likely cause dramatic price spikes here at home.