President Donald Trump is unleashing opportunities for industries to succeed in the national and world economies. This is especially true for the energy sector. Even big, beautiful coal may be making a comeback to assist with the nation’s anticipated energy dominance.

Current administration support for the energy sector truly includes “all of the above” fuel and resource types. So, wind, solar, water, nuclear, traditional natural gas, fracked gas, oil, and coal are all “above.” Each has its place in promoting U.S. supremacy in the energy marketplace. Advanced, proven production technologies coupled with the cleaning of contaminants found in raw fuel materials will help assure U.S. energy is prime for domestic and international consumption.

Recommended Stories

• Afghan refugees face imminent danger in Taliban's domain
• Iran's next proxy theater is in north Africa
• Spain is cozying up to the CCP, and America must respond

Public health concerns are not ignored, as both sides of the political aisle have claimed that we can have both good-paying industrial jobs and a clean environment.

Last month, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright were at the North Slope of Alaska touting the release of the private-sector economy to harvest America’s abundant natural resources. Furthermore, the National Energy Dominance Council was formed to energize deregulation and boost business and industry. 

Under the leadership of Mr. Zeldin, the EPA has renewed efforts on conservation, energy resilience, and increased manufacturing. The theme of EPA’s “Powering the Great American Comeback” is an initiative focused on working “to protect public health and the environment while restoring the greatness of the American economy.” 

The Comeback plan has five major pillars: “Clean Air, Land, and Water for Every American,” “Restore American Energy Dominance,” “Permitting Reform, Cooperative Federalism, and Cross-Agency Partnership” (read: reduction in red tape), “Make the United States the Artificial Intelligence Capital of the World,” and “Protecting and Bringing Back American Auto Jobs.”

These ecologically protective and economically beneficial aspects work together to help ensure rigorous air, water, and waste evaluations of industrial projects while making the securing of environmental permits more consistent, reliable, and timely.

Since 1970, when the Clean Air Act and the EPA were inaugurated, the nation’s air has been successfully cleaned. We have seen dramatic declines in concentrations of the so-called criteria pollutants: sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, and lead. Hundreds of other contaminants deemed “hazardous air pollutants” have also been successfully tackled at the federal, state, and local levels.

Measurable improvements in the nation’s air quality have continued even with the expansion of business and industry and the growing population, as well as its energy requirements and attendant motor vehicle use.

Americans have supported reasonable measures to clean up and enhance environmental quality, and this support extends to the industrial community as well.

During my decades of regulatory and consulting work with heavy and light industries, I found that operations from expansive steel plants to confined chemical companies were concerned about maintaining environmental standards while running a profitable business. Focused pollution prevention and energy efficiency practices were typical.

FARMING LOBBYISTS FIGHT TO KEEP PESTICIDES IN FOOD AMID MAHA PUSH

One of the most important issues regarding government oversight of business activities was understanding and properly complying with government regulations. The tightening of air quality standards enforced continuous reductions in air pollution emissions, which industry frequently met with engineering ingenuity, including sophisticated control equipment. Construction and operating permit conditions were a particular challenge; however, as long as permit requirements were clear and doable, industries found ways to comply that benefited the public and the environment.

Overall, the new administration’s concentrated backing of manufacturing bodes well for the energy sector and capacious industries, including American auto jobs and the burgeoning AI sector. Generally, a broad swath of business and industry is well-positioned to prosper under the refocused EPA. And, as America makes a rebound in energy and production, we must also ensure that the U.S. will continue to be a leader in maintaining high environmental standards.

Anthony J. Sadar is a Certified Consulting Meteorologist and a former air quality administrator for a large public health department. He is also co-author of Environmental Risk Communication: Principles and Practices for Industry (CRC Press).