Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities


** Senate committees advance Trump’s energy, environment nominees
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Friday, January 24, 2025
Doug Burgum, former North Dakota governor and Trump Interior secretary nominee. Gage Skidmore ([link removed])

President Donald Trump’s nominees for key environmental positions all passed through Senate committees ([link removed]) on Thursday morning. The nominees will next go to the full Senate for consideration and are all expected to be confirmed. The Senate’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted 18-2 to advance Department of the Interior nominee ([link removed]) Doug Burgum and 15-5 for Department of Energy pick ([link removed]) Chris Wright. The Environment and Public Works Committee advanced EPA nominee ([link removed]) Lee Zeldin in an 11-8 vote.

“Trump may say over and over again that he wants to beat China. I can say with absolute certainty that gutting clean energy tax credits is not the way to do that,” said Oregon Senator Ron Wyden ([link removed]) , who voted against Burgum and Wright. “I cannot support these nominees who will carry out Trump’s policies that throw out America’s greatest advantages.”

Trump's first week back in office:

* President Trump issued a barrage of day-one executive orders ([link removed]) affecting the climate, energy, and public lands. This included declaring an energy “emergency,” ([link removed]) opening more lands for drilling in Alaska ([link removed]) , and pausing onshore and offshore wind energy projects ([link removed])
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* The president also reversed many Biden-era climate and environment policies ([link removed]) , including withdrawing the US from the Paris climate agreement.
* The president announced his intention to rename Denali ([link removed]) to “Mt. McKinley,” which was strongly opposed by Alaska political leaders.
* Utah's Garfield County board of commissioners is considering ([link removed]) naming a scenic road that runs through Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument after Trump.


** Quick hits
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US agency to reconsider highway route next to Saguaro National Park

Arizona Republic ([link removed]) | Arizona Daily Star ([link removed]) | KJZZ ([link removed])

Senate committees advance Trump’s energy, environment nominees

Reuters ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed]) | The Hill ([link removed]) | Nevada Current ([link removed]) | KVRR ([link removed])

What Trump’s executive orders mean for Wyoming energy, mining

WyoFile ([link removed])

Poll shows Utahns desire protection of national monuments with nation's transition of power

St. George News ([link removed])

Opinion: Our public lands are a legacy worth fighting for

Bozeman Daily Chronicle ([link removed])

Federal lawmakers push to revive lapsed Colorado River conservation program

Denver Post ([link removed]) | Colorado Sun ([link removed])

Trump admin questions Native Americans' birthright citizenship

Salon ([link removed])

Conservation won big under Biden. Environmentalists and Tribal leaders fear Trump will undo those gains

Inside Climate News ([link removed])


** Quote of the day
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” You hear a lot of talk about all-of-the-above energy, but what I think they really mean is all-of-the-fossil-energy, because renewables are clearly not included in this push to boost energy production.”

—Rachael Hamby, Center for Western Priorities Policy Director, WyoFile ([link removed])


** Picture This
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[link removed]

@usinterior ([link removed])
Renowned for their brilliant sapphire feathers, male mountain bluebirds often hover gracefully over open fields in search of insects and berries. Watch for them perched atop treetops, basking in the warm sunlight—a sight that’s sure to brighten your day. 💙💙💙

Photo at @craterlakenps ([link removed]) by Alicia Burtner

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