Trump's emergency move is aimed at cutting approval time for energy projects from 28 days to 28

The Trump administration announced on Wednesday that it would implement a process of emergency permitting for energy and mining on federal land, cutting approval times from months or even years down to just 28 days.

The U.S. Department of the Interior's move comes in response to the President Donald Trump declaration of a national energy emergency, which he issued on his first official day of office. This was to expedite the permitting process in an attempt to boost the domestic energy supply, lower fuel prices, and strengthen national security.

The DOI issued a press release in which it said that the emergency procedures will apply to fossil fuels such as oil, gas, and coal, uranium and geothermal energy, critical minerals, and biofuels, and kinetic hydropower.

Solar energy was not included, despite the fact that it is the leading source of new electric capacity in America. Trump's criticism of wind energy as expensive and ugly was also left out.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum stated in a statement that the United States could not afford to wait.

Burgum said that by reducing the multi-year permit process to 28 days, his department would be able to lead with urgency and resolve while focusing on strengthening America's energy independence.

For years, industry groups have complained about the slow and expensive process of obtaining permits for projects on federal land and waters.

It remains to be determined if these measures will have an impact on U.S. Oil production. This is nearing record levels, as drillers are chasing high prices after sanctions against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The DOI announced that it would use alternate means to comply decades-old laws which are the foundation for U.S. Environmental Protection, such as the National Environmental Policy Act Endangered Species Act, and National Historic Preservation Act.

The Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental group, said that the move would be beneficial to fossil fuel companies and not the public.

Randi Spivak said in a CBD statement that "these so-called emergency procedure are nothing more than grease on the skids to help corporate interests speed up approvals which will harm the health of people, our public land and the climate." (Reporting and editing by Nichola groom)

(source: Reuters)