In Houston, oil and gas executives express their reservations about both the current and former presidents, showcasing a complex political landscape for the fossil fuel industry.
Ben Lefebvre reports for Politico.
In short:
- Executives criticize Biden's regulatory measures but fear Trump's return could reintroduce trade tensions and unpredictability.
- While appreciating Trump's support for U.S. fossil fuel energy, concerns linger about his trade policies potentially harming the industry.
- The sector, leaning Republican, is caught in a dilemma, weighing policy benefits against economic stability risks.
Key quote:
"Trump is going to be Trump. I expect he’ll pick up where he left off if he’s reelected.”
— Dan Eberhart, CEO of oilfield services company Canary
Why this matters:
The energy industry's response to a potential second Trump presidency involves anticipation of policies that could significantly reshape U.S. energy production, particularly in favor of fossil fuels. Experts and analysts suggest that under a Trump administration, there would likely be a concerted effort to undo much of the Biden administration’s climate change mitigation efforts and to boost fossil fuel production.
Have market pressures changed since Trump was president? In this 2019 piece, Douglas Fischer wrote: As Trump retreats, financial markets push for sustainability, climate accountability.
