Jerry Shenk: Common sense returns to U.S. energy policy

On February 5, his first day on the job, new Energy Secretary Chris Wright issued a memorandum entitled “Unleashing the Golden Era of American Energy Dominance” that outlined his/the administration’s goals for the Department of Energy.

The memo is consistent with President Donald Trump’s campaign promise to unleash American energy in all of its practical forms.

Wright was confirmed despite climate protestors repeatedly disrupting his Senate confirmation hearings and legacy media characterizing him as a climate change skeptic.

In response to a question about how he would respond to media attacks, Wright answered, “I’d love to have that dialogue … Climate change is a real thing, but it’s not at all what is represented to be. It’s nowhere near the world’s biggest problem. It’s a slow-moving problem that the only solution is new and better energy technology.”

Wright’s first and primary objective is to “advance energy addition, not subtraction,” explaining that net-zero emissions policies raise energy costs, threaten the reliability of the U.S. energy system, and undermine America’s energy and national security while failing to achieve emissions reductions.

Wright: “Going forward, the Department’s goal will be to unleash the great abundance of American energy required to power modern life and to achieve a durable state of American energy dominance.” And the memo pledges, “We will accelerate American science, reduce energy costs for American families and businesses, and strengthen reliability and security for our nation’s energy system — all in our quest to better human lives.”

An abundance of supply, of course, means lower energy costs for consumers. As President Donald Trump has observed, when energy costs go down, so do the prices of everything else.

Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and other areas having large national gas resources will be pleased by the administration’s commitment to “Return to Regular Order on LNG Exports.”

The memo: “America is blessed with abundant energy resources – we are the world’s top oil and gas producer and a net energy exporter for the first time in decades. Our energy abundance is an asset, not a liability. On January 20, the Department resumed consideration of pending applications to export American liquefied natural gas (LNG) to countries without a free trade agreement (FTA) with the U.S. in accordance with the Natural Gas Act. Proper consideration of LNG export applications is required by law and shall proceed accordingly.”

In another break for consumers, Wright promises to “Promote Affordability and Consumer Choice in Home Appliances.”

The quality and selection of home appliances have declined sharply as a result of government regulations, while prices have increased. Most recently, the use of gas appliances has come under attack.

The memo: “A top priority of the Trump Administration is to ensure that American families can choose from a range of affordable home appliances and products. Therefore, the Department will initiate a comprehensive review of the DOE Appliance Standards Program. Any standards should include a cost-benefit analysis considering the upfront cost of purchasing new products and reflecting actual cost savings for American families. The Department will pursue a commonsense approach that does not regulate products that consumers value out of the market; instead, affordability and consumer choice will be our guiding light.”

Furthermore, the Energy Department will “prioritize more efficient permitting to enable private sector investments and build the energy infrastructure needed to make energy more affordable, reliable, and secure. To that end, the Department will identify and exercise its legal authorities to expedite the approval and construction of reliable energy infrastructure,” […] “to strengthen the nation’s grid, including the backbone of the grid, our transmission system,” and “bring a renewed focus to growing baseload and dispatchable generation to reliably meet growing demand.”

For the record, in energy industry terms, “dispatchable” means “controllable and reliable.” Dispatchable energy sources are those that can be adjusted, turned on and off to meet demand levels. Natural gas, coal and nuclear are dispatchable. Wind and solar are not.

Ironically, the free market is making inroads on renewing the use of a “dispatchable,” “net zero” energy source that fell out of favor years ago. In September 2024, it was announced that Three Mile Island is reopening and selling its power to Microsoft for the provision of power hungry digital services.

Expect significantly more nuclear projects.

Clearly, common sense is returning/has returned to American energy policy.

Contact columnist Jerry Shenk at jshenk2010@gmail.com