Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
** Taking stock of Biden's public lands legacy
------------------------------------------------------------
Friday, January 10, 2025
President Joe Biden at the Grand Canyon in August 2023. White House Photo by Cameron Smith ([link removed])
With ten days remaining in his presidency, the Center for Western Priorities today released a report looking at President Joe Biden's final year on public lands ([link removed]) .
Report authors Lauren Bogard and Sterling Homard write that 2024 was the culmination of years of work for the Biden administration on public lands, including the completion of several high priority rulemakings related to federal oil and gas leasing and bonding ([link removed]) , renewable energy development ([link removed]) , bringing conservation on par with other uses of public lands ([link removed]) , regulating methane emissions ([link removed]) , and protecting millions of acres in Alaska from future drilling and mining ([link removed]) .
This week, President Biden capped off his remarkable year with the announcement of Chuckwalla and Sáttítla Highlands National Monuments in California ([link removed]) , pushing the total number of acres he protected using the Antiquities Act to nearly 4.5 million (including the restoration of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments) and establishing his legacy as the most consequential conservation president in modern history.
Learn more about President Biden's public lands record, and how he left a road map for future conservation-minded presidents to follow, in CWP's report ([link removed]) .
Trump's energy team is already fighting
Meanwhile, with ten days until he takes office, President-elect Donald Trump's energy and public lands team is already beset by infighting. Politico reports that Trump's "National Energy Council" is caught in a turf war between Trump's nominees to run the Interior and Energy departments ([link removed]) .
One industry executive told Politico that it appears the council will be run on an "ad hoc" basis with little staff and report to Stephen Miller, Trump's deputy chief of staff who is the architect of Trump's mass deportation plans ([link removed]) . Even the council's name is in flux, with Politico reporting that it will be renamed the "National Energy Dominance Council" to avoid acronym confusion with the long-standing National Economic Council.
Trump had originally announced that the council would be run by Interior secretary nominee Doug Burgum. Politico reports ([link removed]) that Chris Wright, Trump's incoming Energy secretary who denies the existence of a climate crisis ([link removed]) , wants an equal role on the council, with another industry executive saying "some hardliners want more of a true believer" leading the council.
** Quick hits
------------------------------------------------------------
Opinion: As Los Angeles burns, a Trump cabinet pick targets the pinnacle of climate research
MSNBC ([link removed])
More people across the West are living in the riskiest wildfire zones
Bloomberg ([link removed])
Will California's insurance system survive the L.A. fires?
Grist ([link removed])
The Western Solar Plan is done, but will Trump blow it up?
CPR News ([link removed])
Wyoming bills would legalize corner crossing, ban carbon reduction efforts
WyoFile ([link removed]) [corner crossing] | WyoFile ([link removed]) [carbon reduction]
Utah wildlife center calls for hunters to switch ammo after bald eagle dies of lead poisoning
KSL ([link removed])
U.S. will keep protecting Yellowstone-area grizzlies
Associated Press ([link removed]) | WyoFile ([link removed]) | National Parks Traveler ([link removed])
What's next after Tribes failed to secure water rights in the Colorado River Basin?
Colorado Sun ([link removed])
** Quote of the day
------------------------------------------------------------
” It’s important we codify that the people of Wyoming have the right to access their public lands.... I’m not one to sit by and hope the Supreme Court makes the right decision when we know people’s rights are on the line.”
—Wyoming State Representative Karlee Provenza, WyoFile ([link removed])
** Picture This
------------------------------------------------------------
@usinterior ([link removed])
It’s loud. It’s cold. And it’s absolutely stunning! ❄️
Winter’s artistry is on full display @LakeClarkNPS ([link removed]) . The rushing water at Tanalian Falls is mesmerizing year-round, but it’s magical with a winter coat of frost and ice!
Photo by J. Walton / NPS
============================================================
** Website ([link removed])
** Instagram ([link removed])
** Facebook ([link removed])
** Medium ([link removed])
Copyright © 2025 Center for Western Priorities, All rights reserved.
You've signed up to receive Look West updates.
Center for Western Priorities
1999 Broadway
Suite 520
Denver, CO 80202
USA
** View this on the web ([link removed])
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can ** update your preferences ([link removed])
or ** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])
