In 2025, US energy policy is dominated by an abrupt divide between policies at the federal and state levels, particularly California's attempts.
The Trump administration has declared a national energy emergency, bringing in policies to accelerate the approval process of energy and mining projects on federal lands. The policy aims to restrict permitting periods to a maximum of 28 days, primarily favoring fossil fuel projects such as oil, gas, coal, and uranium. Surprisingly, renewable sources such as solar and wind are excluded from this accelerated process.
Additionally, the government has taken measures to limit state-level regulations perceived to hinder conventional energy production. This includes attempts to repeal state policies penalizing past greenhouse gas emissions and standing in opposition to state-level carbon cap bills.
While the federal plan paves the way for more gas-guzzling buses, California is pushing ahead with its clean energy initiatives. The state has invested $500 million to add to its fleet of electric school buses, planning to add 1,000 electric buses and 500 new charging stations to over 130 school districts. The investment is part of California's broader endeavor to be carbon neutral by 2045 and mandates that nearly all new public school buses must be zero-emission by 2035.
Furthermore, California recently updated its 2025 Building Energy Efficiency Standards with an emphasis on decarbonization by energy efficiency and demand flexibility. The standards are designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and minimize the operational expense of consumers of the future's decarbonized buildings and homes.
The federal and state governments' different energy policies identify a complex situation for energy development in the United States. Whereas the federal government is interested in traditional energy sources and streamlining fossil fuel projects, states like California are significantly investing in renewable energy and infrastructure to support a clean energy shift. This variation can lead to varying energy landscapes across the country, based on varying regulatory conditions and investment interests.
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