DAVID BLACKMON: Trump’s Energy Policy Triumphs in First 100 Days

Australia-based energy firm Woodside has unveiled plans to invest $17 billion in a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility in south Louisiana. According to CEO Meg O’Neill, this project marks the largest greenfield energy investment and the most significant foreign direct investment in the state’s history.

The facility, which supports 15,000 construction jobs, will ultimately have an export capacity exceeding 27 million tons per annum. Woodside acquired the project, previously known as the Driftwood LNG project under Tellurian, for $900 million in 2024.

This announcement coincides with President Donald Trump’s administration, emphasizing the abrupt shift in U.S. energy policy. Under Trump, the LNG sector has shifted from being critiqued by the previous administration to experiencing renewed growth.

Upon taking office, Trump rescinded a permitting pause imposed by former President Joe Biden that hindered new LNG facilities, thus revitalizing the sector significantly.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has reinstated the federal oil and gas leasing program, previously stalled under Biden’s administration. His department is also expediting permitting approvals tied to environmental regulations.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin has halted $20 billion in contentious grants allocated by his predecessor, while launching a study on potentially reversing the Obama-era finding categorizing carbon dioxide as a pollutant, which could restore clarity in air quality regulations.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright has emerged as a robust advocate for common-sense energy policies, pushing for the revitalization of the coal industry and addressing rising utility costs associated with the wind power sector.

The first 100 days of Trump’s administration have yielded pronounced changes in energy and climate policy. The administration’s supporters argue this period marks a significant return to growth and effectiveness in the energy sector.