WHAT’S HAPPENING: Good afternoon and Happy Monday readers! Today, we celebrate a historic Martin Luther King Jr. Day that has coincided with the inauguration of President Donald Trump. As the 47th president kicked off his second administration from inside the Capitol today, he was expected to issue a number of executive actions related to his America First energy policy. 

Outside of wintry D.C., California isn’t out of the woods just yet, as forecasters are warning of high winds that could fuel wildfires in the Los Angeles area. 

With the new administration eager to confirm Trump’s cabinet picks, the 119th Congress remains busy this week with a slew of hearings and meetings to consider the nominations. Keep reading to see which ones we have our eyes on this week. 

Welcome to Daily on Energy, written by Washington Examiner energy and environment writers Callie Patteson (@CalliePatteson) and Maydeen Merino (@MaydeenMerino). Email cpatteson@washingtonexaminer dot com or mmerino@washingtonexaminer dot com for tips, suggestions, calendar items, and anything else. If a friend sent this to you and you’d like to sign up, click here. If signing up doesn’t work, shoot us an email, and we’ll add you to our list.

TRUMP AND ENERGY…DAY ONE: 

Releases initial priorities – Shortly after Trump was sworn in, and before any executive orders were signed, the new Trump administration issued a detailed memo of its energy priorities within the president’s America First agenda. 

The priorities were circulated among GOP lawmakers ahead of the inauguration and focused on repealing a number of former President Joe Biden’s “policies of climate extremism” while empowering American consumer choice regarding vehicles and home appliances. 

The memo details policies that will end leasing for wind farms, but does not specify if that will apply to offshore, onshore, or both. It also notes plans to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord, launch the “America First Trade Policy,” and declare an energy emergency. 

Declares national energy emergency – During his inauguration address, Trump revealed he would declare a national energy emergency aimed at lowering energy prices for Americans and undoing Biden’s climate policies. 

The declaration will pursue U.S. “energy dominance” in its race with China to develop artificial intelligence, which entails significant energy use. Although it is unclear how the declaration will work, a White House official said it will unlock various authorities allowing the U.S. to produce more natural resources, create jobs, and strengthen national security. 

Omnibus executive order – Trump is also poised to sign a sweeping executive order expected to undo Biden rules related to electric vehicles and efficiency rules for appliances like gas stoves. 

“[W]e will revoke the electric vehicle mandate, saving our auto industry and keeping my sacred pledge to our great American auto workers,” Trump said in his inauguration speech. “In other words, you’ll be able to buy the car of your choice.”

The order will end the leasing of wind farms and withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement for the second time. 

Ahead of the inauguration, a senior administration official told Fox News that the large package would address “every single energy policy,” as well as permitting, liquified natural gas, fracking and more. 

Read more from Maydeen here.

Unleashing Alaska –  The president was also expected to sign a separate executive order directly addressing future oil and gas development in the state of Alaska. 

Ahead of the inauguration, an incoming White House official previewed the order and called Alaska “key” for U.S. national security and energy dominance given its abundance of natural resources. 

Oil and gas development will likely remain at the forefront of the executive action, though it is also expected to help unleash all natural resource potential in the state, including timber, seafood, and critical minerals. 

The incoming administration also offered support for making Alaska a hub for exporting liquefied natural gas to the U.S. and abroad before the order was issued. 

Read more from Callie here. 

OIL PRICES SLIDE FOLLOWING INAUGURATION: The price of oil began to fall today after Trump took office, as he has promised to boost exports of American oil across the globe and fill the U.S. strategic reserve. 

The details: As of around 2 pm ET, prices for international benchmark Brent Crude had dropped by just over 1% to $79.95, while West Texas Intermediate also dipped by 1.16% to $76.98. 

The dropping prices come after weeks of a steady incline, most recently driven by Biden administration sanctions on Russia oil exports. 

For months, Trump has vowed to “drill, baby, drill” during the next four years of his administration in an effort to bring prices down at the pump and support energy dominance. He echoed that promise again during his inaugural address. 

Key quote: “We have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have: the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth, and we are going to use it,” Trump said. “We will bring prices down, fill our strategic reserves up again right to the top, and export American energy all over the world. We will be a rich nation again, and it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it.” 

NORTH DAKOTA’S OIL OUTPUT DROPS: As Trump’s promises to increase drilling rang throughout Washington, one of the largest oil-producing states in the country saw its output drop today. 

The details: North Dakota Pipeline Authority revealed today that its oil production was down by between 125,000 and 150,000 barrels per day – roughly 12% of the state’s oil output, per Reuters. 

Extreme cold weather has been partially blamed for the drop in output, as some regions of the state remain under extreme cold weather warnings from the National Weather Service until tomorrow. 

Justin Kringstad, director of the state’s pipeline authority, has reportedly insisted the lost production will be back online over the next week as temperatures begin to rise again. 

Some background: North Dakota is widely considered to be the third largest oil-producing state, making up around 8.9% of total crude production in the U.S., per the Energy Information Administration. It follows New Mexico, which makes up around 13.3%, and Texas, which makes up a whopping 42.5%. 

CALIFORNIA PREPARES FOR ANOTHER WINDSTORM: Strong winds are forecast to hit parts of Southern California today and tomorrow morning.

In the last few days, winds have died down, allowing for firefighters to make progress on containing the two large fires burning through Los Angeles – the Palisades and Eaton fires. The Palisades fire is 59% contained and the Eaton fire is 87% contained as of this afternoon. However, high winds are expected to increase fire risks for Los Angeles and nearby areas. 

According to AccuWeather, wind gusts from 60 to 80 mph are expected in Los Angeles. Ventura and San Diego counties could see wind gusts from 40 to 60 mph. 

“Very dry conditions remain [across Southern California], combined with the expected winds, the number one concern again will be fires. Any fire that starts in the areas will be difficult, to impossible, to control,” AccuWeather California expert Ken Clark said. 

CalFire warned California residents yesterday to avoid outdoor fires or campfires during dry and windy conditions and to check equipment to ensure spark arrestors on off-road vehicles are in proper working order.

“Always be mindful of potential ignition sources and avoid activities that involve fire or sparks, especially during dry conditions. One careless spark can ignite a wildfire. Don’t be that person,” CalFire tweeted. CalFire said it increased staffing and pre-positioned resources to act quickly to any incidents.  

Hazardous air in Los Angeles: During the peak of the Los Angeles fires, New York Times reported, the atmospheric concentrations of lead and chlorine were far higher than normal. 

Lead levels in the atmosphere reached 100 times average levels even miles away from the flames and chlorine reached 40 times the average. 

EUROPEAN UNION LOOKS TO BAN ‘FOREVER CHEMICALS’ IN CONSUMER PRODUCTS: The European Commission will seek to impose a ban on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals,” for consumer products, Reuters reports. 

“What we know we are looking for is a ban in consumer products,” EU Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall told Reuters. “This is something that is important for us human beings, of course, but also for the environment, but I think also for the industry so they know how they can phase out PFAS.”

PFAS has been found in a slew of consumer products ranging from water-resistant clothing, cookware, and cosmetics. The EU will look to ban the chemical in consumer products except for essential industrial uses. 

A LOOK AHEAD 

Jan. 20  Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Jan. 20  Donald Trump is inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States. 

Jan. 22  The House Energy and Commerce committee’s Subcommittee on the Environment poised to hold a hearing on the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, signed by President Barack Obama in 2016. 

Jan. 22 The House Committee on Natural Resources will hold a Committee Organizational Meeting.

Jan. 23 The Senate committee on Environment and Public Works will meet to consider the nomination of former Rep. Lee Zeldin to head the Environmental Protection Agency. 

Jan. 23 The Senate committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry will hold a hearing to consider the nomination of attorney Brooke Rollins to serve as Secretary of Agriculture. 

Jan. 23 The U.S. Energy Association will hold its 21st State of the Energy Industry Forum. 

RUNDOWN 

Inside Climate News Buckle Up for a ‘Weird Moment’ in the U.S. Electric Vehicle Market, Even as Global Sales Have Soared

Forbes Trump’s ‘Drill Baby Drill’ – Why SLB Could Lead Energy Sector In 2025

The Guardian The LA fires left a beloved school in ashes. Now, parents are rallying to restart their ‘community’