Trump unveils energy policy in Houston, focuses on fossil fuels

The Trump administration is detailing its energy priorities in Houston this week, focusing on deregulation and support for fossil fuels. The CERAWeek conference, which gathers key industry players, will serve as the stage for these announcements.

Partagez:

Three senior officials from the Trump administration are attending the CERAWeek conference in Houston this week, a key event in the energy sector. Their presence aims to clarify the direction of the new U.S. energy policy, marked by a push for deregulation and increased support for the oil and gas industries.

A shift towards deregulation

Upon returning to the White House, Donald Trump signed an executive order titled Unleashing American Energy, aimed at boosting fossil fuel extraction and reducing environmental restrictions. This initiative led the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to attempt to overturn California’s ban on internal combustion vehicles by 2035, an effort halted by the Government Accountability Office.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright is opening the conference by reaffirming his commitment to expanding the energy sector, including fossil fuels. A former executive at Liberty Energy, a company specializing in shale oil and gas equipment, Wright advocates for increasing domestic production.

A booming natural gas market

The expansion of the Plaquemines liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Louisiana by Venture Global was announced on Friday, with an additional $18 billion investment. This decision highlights the rapid growth of the U.S. gas market, which has already made the country the world’s leading LNG exporter.

“Our exports will more than double in the coming years,” Chris Wright stated on Bloomberg Television. This development follows the lifting of a moratorium on new LNG terminals imposed by Joe Biden, citing climate concerns.

Uncertainty over energy relations with Europe

Europe remains the primary customer for U.S. LNG, particularly after reducing Russian imports following the war in Ukraine. However, the diplomatic repositioning of the United States under Donald Trump, marked by a rapprochement with Russia and tensions with Europe, raises questions about the future of these exports.

Jonathan Elkind, a researcher at Columbia University, noted that “the role of the United States as a strategic energy supplier for Europe could be called into question.” While U.S. oil production remains at record levels, shifts in foreign policy could influence transatlantic energy flows.

The UK's Climate Change Committee is urging the government to quickly reduce electricity costs to facilitate the adoption of heat pumps and electric vehicles, judged too slow to achieve the set climate targets.
The European Commission will extend until the end of 2030 an expanded state-aid framework, allowing capitals to fund low-carbon technologies and nuclear power to preserve competitiveness against China and the United States.
Japan's grid operator forecasts an energy shortfall of up to 89 GW by 2050 due to rising demand from semiconductor manufacturing, electric vehicles, and artificial intelligence technologies.
Energy-intensive European industries will be eligible for temporary state aid to mitigate high electricity prices, according to a new regulatory framework proposed by the European Commission under the "Clean Industrial Deal."
Mauritius seeks international investors to swiftly build a floating power plant of around 100 MW, aiming to secure the national energy supply by January 2026 and address current production shortfalls.
Madrid announces immediate energy storage measures while Lisbon secures its electrical grid, responding to the historic outage that affected the entire Iberian Peninsula in late April.
Indonesia has unveiled its new national energy plan, projecting an increase of 69.5 GW in electricity capacity over ten years, largely funded by independent producers, to address rapidly rising domestic demand.
French Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher condemns the parliamentary moratorium on new renewable energy installations, warning of the potential loss of 150,000 industrial jobs and increased energy dependence on foreign countries.
The European battery regulation, fully effective from August 18, significantly alters industrial requirements related to electric cars and bicycles, imposing strict rules on recycling, supply chains, and transparency for companies.
The European Parliament calls on the Commission to strengthen energy infrastructure and accelerate the implementation of the Clean Industrial Deal to enhance the continent's energy flexibility and security amid increased market volatility.
The European Commission unveils an ambitious plan to modernize electricity grids and introduces the Clean Industrial Deal, mobilizing hundreds of billions of euros to strengthen the continent's industrial and energy autonomy.
In the United States, regulated electric grid operators hold a decisive advantage in connecting new data centres to the grid, now representing 134 GW of projects, according to a Wood Mackenzie report published on June 19.
The French National Assembly approves a specific target of 200 TWh renewable electricity production by 2030 within a legislative text extensively debated about the future national energy mix.
In 2024, US CO₂ emissions remain stable at 5.1bn tonnes, as the Trump administration prepares hydrocarbon-friendly energy policies, raising questions about the future evolution of the American market.
The early publication of France's energy decree triggers strong parliamentary reactions, as the government aims to rapidly secure investments in nuclear and other energy sectors.
Seven weeks after the major Iberian power outage, Spain identifies technical network failures, while the European Investment Bank approves major funding to strengthen the interconnection with France.
The European Union has announced a detailed schedule aiming to definitively halt Russian gas imports by the end of 2027, anticipating internal legal and commercial challenges to overcome.
Madagascar plans the imminent opening of a 105 MW thermal power plant to swiftly stabilise its electricity grid, severely affected in major urban areas, while simultaneously developing renewable energy projects.
India's Central Electricity Regulatory Commission proposes a new financial instrument enabling industrial companies to meet renewable energy targets through virtual contracts, without physical electricity delivery, thus facilitating compliance management.
Minister Marc Ferracci confirms the imminent publication of the energy programming decree, without waiting for the conclusion of parliamentary debates, including a substantial increase in Energy Efficiency Certificates.