EXCLUSIVE — Republican lawmakers in a number of states are praising President Donald Trump’s American energy dominance agenda as he prepares to deliver the first State of the Union address of his second term later Tuesday.
While expressing support for Trump, three state legislative leaders in Pennsylvania, North Dakota, and Oklahoma are touting their own actions to promote the president’s energy policy. The Trump administration particularly favors fossil fuels and nuclear power over green energy initiatives, which were once spearheaded by the Biden administration.
Pennsylvania pulled out of the Regional Green Gas Initiative through the state budget process last fall. The climate program would have capped the amount of carbon companies in the state were allowed to emit.
Pennsylvania state Sen. Kim Ward, the top Republican in the state chamber, led the effort to shift away from the program. Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA) ultimately approved the state’s withdrawal.
“As an energy powerhouse producing more natural gas than nearly any other state, the past year has made it clear why Pennsylvania helped deliver President Trump’s victory: His all-of-the-above energy strategy is unleashing our commonwealth and country’s full energy potential,” Ward said in a statement provided to the Washington Examiner.
“Clean coal and America’s other natural resources ensure reliable, affordable power for our families, businesses, and communities,” she added. “President Trump’s historic policies are advancing domestic energy production and with it, American energy dominance.”
Meanwhile, the highest-ranking member in the North Dakota Senate stands firmly behind Trump’s pursuit of nuclear energy.
Last year, North Dakota state Sen. David Hogue championed legislation authorizing a research center in the state to study nuclear energy development and the possible benefits and drawbacks of the often misunderstood energy source. Hogue cited energy-consuming data centers powered by artificial intelligence as a reason the state should consider a nuclear option.
“President Trump’s incredible energy accomplishments have already benefited North Dakota’s economy and the American worker by returning good-paying jobs, restoring affordable energy, reclaiming energy independence, and reprioritizing national security,” Hogue said.
“I stand with the Trump Administration’s commitment to unleash American energy and applaud President Trump’s leadership to reclaim our country from the radical left’s failed agenda,” he added. “It is time to restore American greatness.”
Oklahoma state Sen. Paul Rosino has also been a vocal advocate of Trump’s energy policy, especially as it relates to national security and the economy.
“Oklahoma is home to the ‘Pipeline Crossroads of the World,’ serving as one of North America’s largest storage locations for crude oil, which is vital to our nation’s energy landscape,” the lawmaker said. “As a Navy veteran, I know the national security implications that come with Oklahoma’s vast petroleum resources and now as a Senator how it plays into one of the state’s lead economic drivers.”
Oklahoma ranks among the top oil-producing states, producing between 400,000 and 500,000 barrels of crude oil per day. The Sooner State accounts for over 3.7% of the total U.S. daily oil output.
“I know firsthand why it’s so important that President Trump is erasing the weak Biden Administration’s energy policies,” Rosino continued. “President Trump understands the importance of being able to rely on states like Oklahoma to fend off adversaries like China. The efforts by the administration to rollback bureaucracy and burdensome regulations will allow our nation to thrive and make us more secure now and in the future.”
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During the State of the Union address, Trump will likely highlight his energy dominance agenda by focusing on the shift toward fossil fuels and lower gas prices since taking office last year.
Additionally, Trump is expected to announce new energy deals for data centers that protect electricity ratepayers from bearing the costs of the technology infrastructure. The agreements will be made with several Big Tech companies. Trump first proposed the idea in January, prompting Microsoft to announce it would pay higher electricity rates for data center consumption.
