Despite their design to “ensure that America continues to lead the world in fundamental science,” Project 2025’s Department of Energy reforms will make that impossible. While “fundamental science” demonstrates the severity of the climate crisis, Project 2025 sees climate change as a liberal hoax and remains “committed to unleashing all of America’s energy resources,” no matter the environmental impact.
Project 2025 is far more interested in cutting federal spending than protecting our planet. One of the document’s proposed reforms demands the Federal Energy Management Program stop purchasing “less reliable energy sources in the name of combating climate change.” This reform casts aside green energy sources in favor of “cost-effective energy,” putting our environment at risk just to save money.
Additionally, Project 2025 further politicizes the climate crisis by calling for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) to be eliminated or to have its funding reduced. This reform seeks to “end the focus on climate change and green subsidies” by reversing the EERE’s “progressive policies,” such as funding for the “decarbonization of the economy and renewable resources.” This reform would negatively affect the environment by prioritizing cheap energy over greener, renewable energy.
Another troubling energy proposal with dire environmental impacts is to deregulate the use of natural gas pipelines. This reform to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission would make a need for natural gas the only requirement necessary to certify the use of a pipeline, disregarding the “upstream and downstream effects” of the pipeline. However, ignoring these potential effects means the pipelines could be used regardless of their impact on the environment, leading to increased air and water pollution and the destruction of forests.
In prioritizing cost over green initiatives, Project 2025’s policies undermine progress toward addressing the climate crisis, dismissing it as a political issue rather than a real threat. These energy reforms represent a dangerous step backward from environmental protection and climate justice that will jeopardize the future of sustainable energy and greatly impact the future of our planet.
