Pres. Trump’s nominee to head the Environmental Protection Agency is Scott Pruitt, the current Attorney General of Oklahoma. Mr. Pruitt has built his career suing the federal government to stop various regulations he sees as overreaching. He promised in testimony that under his watch the EPA will work more collaboratively with industry and the states. Former Texas Governor Rick Perry is poised to run the Department of Energy, and he talked proudly about his state’s oil and gas sector in his testimony. Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke is the nominee for the Department of Interior, and he spoke about earning the trust of the states so that communities can see the federal government as a partner.
Perhaps most telling of the new perspective from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue was the new policy statements immediately posted the White House website. Pres. Trump erased Pres. Obama’s climate change plans, and replaced it with “An America First Energy Plan” that calls for utilizing America’s “untapped shale, oil, and natural gas reserves.” He wants to “develop a positive energy relationship” with middle east allies, and says American domestic energy production is a central part of that effort. This is highlighted by his appointment of former ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson to serve as Secretary of State. Mr. Tillerson has long supported a robust energy trade, including the export of oil and natural gas from the United States.
So far, industry-supporting groups like the Marcellus Shale Coalition seem happy with where the President is headed, and if you want to get in on the action Cimmaron Land is ready to help with all your title and leasing needs.