Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
** Trump admin energy policies show there's no 'energy emergency'
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Friday, August 8, 2025
Oil and gas development in Wyoming, Bureau of Land Management ([link removed])
On the first day of his second term, President Donald Trump declared an "energy emergency" and has used this so-called emergency to justify a suite of energy and public lands policies. But many of these policies are inconsistent with an actual energy emergency ([link removed]) .
The budget bill pushed by President Trump and passed in July made a number of changes to the federal onshore oil and gas leasing program, with the ostensible goal of increasing oil and gas production. However, oil and gas production was already at record levels during the Biden administration, and is driven more by market forces than by generous lease terms. ([link removed]) Rather than stimulate increased production, the policy changes simply lower costs for oil and gas companies to operate on federal lands, and at the expense of taxpayer returns and public access.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has taken a number of policy actions to make renewable energy development on national public lands more difficult, further undermining the declaration of an "energy emergency." In an actual emergency, the government would pursue a true "all-of-the-above" approach. Instead, as Center for Western Priorities Communications Manager Kate Groetzinger points out ([link removed]) , "The upshot of this is that the public is going to lose out on access to public lands and oil and gas companies are really going to be put in the driver's seat when it comes to how our public lands are used."
Staffing shortages are hitting national parks and forests hard this summer
In a new Westwise blog post ([link removed]) , Center for Western Priorities Communications Manager Kate Groetzinger lays out the many ways in which the Trump administration’s funding and staffing cuts are crippling our national parks, forests, and other public lands. These cuts are completely at odds with the wishes of the American public, who love public lands and want to see the agencies that care for them fully funded.
** Quick hits
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U.S. national parks staff in ‘survival mode’ to keep parks open amid Trump cuts
The Guardian ([link removed])
As clock ticks on Oak Flat copper mine, judge considers late plea to block land swap
Arizona Republic ([link removed])
Lombardo: Nevada solar industry is ‘frozen’ due to Trump admin memo
Las Vegas Review-Journal ([link removed])
Wind and solar projects stall as Trump cracks down on renewables
New York Times ([link removed])
As a critical minerals mine nears approval in Arizona, residents fear it's already affecting area water
Inside Climate News ([link removed])
How the rapid spread of misinformation pushed Oregon lawmakers to kill the state’s wildfire risk map
ProPublica ([link removed])
The Trump team sets double standard on migratory bird rules
High Country News ([link removed])
Opinion: America needs affordable energy; Coal doesn’t fit the bill
DC Journal ([link removed])
** Quote of the day
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” What is important to visitors is healthy ecosystems and cultural landscapes, whereas this administration sees these places more like theme parks than national parks. It’s a Potemkin village scenario where the public can’t see things falling apart behind the scenes.”
—John Garder, National Parks Conservation Association, The Guardian ([link removed])
** Picture This
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@canyonlandsnps ([link removed])
Wanting to visit Canyonlands in the coming weeks? Be weather aware!
Late July and August is monsoon season where consistent storm fronts moving through the parks. These fast-changing weather conditions can drastically change your plans, so make sure you are prepared for all types of weather!
It is HOT here in the desert, but with rain comes flash flooding, humidity, and changing trail and road conditions. Make sure you are aware of risks before starting a journey into our gorgeous backcountry! Chat with a ranger about expectations and safety precautions.
Even if the weather makes you change your plans, remember that rain in the desert is a gift! It is helping keep our gorgeous plants and animals alive and bringing desert colors back out, so if it derails your plans, enjoy it still! It’s an awesome thing to witness. And look for rainbows!
Check out our website to learn what weather you might encounter on your visit: [link removed]
📷NPS/Darien Fontana
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