By Jarrett Renshaw

(Reuters) – Donald Trump’s transition team is putting together a wide-ranging energy package to roll out within days of his taking office that would approve export permits for new liquefied (LNG) projects and increase oil drilling off the U.S. coast and on federal lands, according to two sources familiar with the plans.

The energy checklist largely reflects promises Trump made on the campaign trail, but the plan to roll out the list as early as day one ensures that oil and gas production will rank alongside immigration as a pillar of Trump’s early agenda.

Trump, a Republican, also plans to repeal some of his Democratic predecessor’s key climate legislation and regulations, such as tax credits for electric vehicles and new clean power plant standards that aim to phase out coal and natural gas, the sources said.

An early priority would be lifting President Joe Biden’s election-year pause on new export permits for LNG and moving swiftly to approve pending permits, the sources said. Trump would also look to expedite drilling permits on federal lands and quickly reopen five-year drilling plans off the U.S. coast to include more lease sales, the sources said.

In a symbolic gesture, Trump would seek to approve the Keystone Pipeline, an issue that was an environmental flashpoint and which was halted after Biden canceled a key permit on his first day in office. But any company looking to build the multibillion-dollar effort to carry Canadian to the U.S. would need to start from scratch because things like easements have been returned to landowners.

“The American people can bank on President Trump using his executive power on day one to deliver on the promises he made to them on the campaign trail,” Karoline Leavitt, Trump’s transition spokesperson, said in a statement.

Many of the elements in the plan would require time to move through Congress or the nation’s regulatory system. Trump has promised to declare an energy emergency on his first day in office that could test whether he can bypass those barriers to impose some changes on an accelerated schedule.

Trump would also call on Congress to provide new funding so he can replenish the nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve, established as an emergency crude oil supply and which was depleted under Biden to help manage price spikes caused by the Ukraine crisis and high inflation during the pandemic. Replenishing the reserve would boost short-term oil demand and encourage U.S. production.

Trump is also expected to put pressure on the International Energy Agency, the Paris-based energy watchdog that advises industrialized countries on energy policy. Republicans have criticized the IEA’s focus on policies to reduce emissions. Trump’s advisers have urged him to withhold funding unless the IEA takes a more pro-oil position.

“I have pushed Trump in person and his team generally on pressuring the IEA to return to its core mission of energy security and to pivot away from greenwashing,” said Dan Eberhart, CEO of oilfield service firm Canary.

TRUMP ‘PLANS TO GO STRONG’ ON LNG

Biden put a freeze on new LNG export permits in January to study the environmental impacts, in an election-year move aimed at making gains with the party’s green voting blocs. Without the export permits, developers cannot go ahead with multi-year construction plans for new projects. Projects delayed include Venture Global’s CP2, Commonwealth LNG, and Energy Transfer (NYSE:)’s Lake Charles complex, all of which are in Louisiana.

The United States is the world’s top producer of natural gas, and became the No. 1 exporter of LNG in 2022 as Europe looked to America to wean itself off Russia’s vast energy supplies following the invasion of Ukraine.

The Biden administration promised to release the environmental study before Trump assumes the White House on Jan. 20, but it would have no influence on the incoming administration, the sources said.

“The LNG issue is a lay-up and he plans to go strong on the issue,” said one of the sources.

There are five U.S. LNG export projects that have been approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, but are still awaiting permit approvals at the Department of Energy, federal records show.

Biden’s pause also halted necessary environmental reviews, portions of which may still be needed for the five pending DOE permits to withstand legal scrutiny.

LOOKING TO DRILL OFFSHORE AND ON FEDERAL LANDS

Trump would look to accelerate drilling off the U.S. coast and on federal lands.

The average time to complete a drilling permit on federal and Indian land averaged 258 days in the first three years of Biden’s administration, up from 172 days during the four years of Trump’s presidency, according to federal data.

Trump is expected to expedite pending permits, hold sales more frequently and offer land that is more likely to deliver oil, the sources said.

Despite the lag time in permit approvals, Biden’s Interior Department approved more onshore oil drilling permits on average than Trump’s first administration, federal records show.

Oil output on federal lands and waters hit a record in 2023, while gas production reached its highest level since 2016, according to federal data.

Drilling activity on federal lands and waters accounts for about a quarter of U.S. oil production and 12% of gas output.

Investing.com — The outlook for prices in 2025 remains cautiously optimistic, influenced by a mix of global demand trends, supply-side constraints, and weather-driven uncertainties. 

As per analysts at BofA Securities, U.S. Henry Hub prices are expected to average $3.33/MMBtu for the year, marking a rebound from the low levels seen throughout much of 2024.

Natural gas prices in 2024 were characterized by subdued trading, largely oscillating between $2 and $3/MMBtu, making it the weakest year since the pandemic-induced slump in 2020. 

This price environment persisted despite record domestic demand, which averaged over 78 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d), buoyed by increases in power generation needs and continued industrial activity. 

However, warm weather conditions during the 2023–24 winter suppressed residential and commercial heating demand, contributing to the overall price weakness.

Looking ahead, several factors are poised to tighten the natural gas market and elevate prices in 2025. 

A key driver is the anticipated rise in liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports as new facilities, including the Plaquemines and Corpus Christi Stage 3 projects, come online. 

These additions are expected to significantly boost U.S. feedgas demand, adding strain to domestic supply and lifting prices. 

The ongoing growth in exports to Mexico via pipeline, which hit record levels in 2024, further underscores the international pull on U.S. gas.

On the domestic front, production constraints could play a pivotal role in shaping the price trajectory. 

While U.S. dry gas production remains historically robust, averaging around 101 Bcf/d in 2024, capital discipline among exploration and production companies suggests a limited ability to rapidly scale output in response to higher prices. 

Producers have strategically withheld volumes, awaiting a more favorable pricing environment. If supply fails to match the anticipated uptick in demand, analysts warn of potential upward repricing in the market.

Weather patterns remain a wildcard. Forecasts suggest that the 2024–25 winter could be 2°F colder than the previous year, potentially driving an additional 500 Bcf of seasonal demand. 

However, should warmer-than-expected temperatures materialize, the opposite effect could dampen price gains. Historically, colder winters have correlated with significant price spikes, reflecting the market’s sensitivity to heating demand.

The structural shift in the U.S. power generation mix also supports a bullish case for natural gas. Ongoing retirements of coal-fired power plants, coupled with the rise of renewable energy, have entrenched natural gas as a critical bridge fuel. 

Even as wind and solar capacity expand, natural gas is expected to fill gaps in generation during periods of low renewable output, further solidifying its role in the energy transition.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Brooke Rollins (NYSE:), president of the America First Policy Institute, to be agriculture secretary.

“As our next Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke will spearhead the effort to protect American Farmers, who are truly the backbone of our Country,” Trump said in a statement.

If confirmed by the Senate, Rollins would lead a 100,000-person agency with offices in every county in the country, whose remit includes farm and nutrition programs, forestry, home and farm lending, food safety, rural development, agricultural research, trade and more. It had a budget of $437.2 billion in 2024.

The nominee’s agenda would carry implications for American diets and wallets, both urban and rural. Department of Agriculture officials and staff negotiate trade deals, guide dietary recommendations, inspect meat, fight wildfires and support rural broadband, among other activities.

“Brooke’s commitment to support the American Farmer, defense of American Food Self-Sufficiency, and the restoration of Agriculture-dependent American Small Towns is second to none,” Trump said in the statement.

The America First Policy Institute is a right-leaning think tank whose personnel have worked closely with Trump’s campaign to help shape policy for his incoming administration. She chaired the Domestic Policy Council during Trump’s first term.

As agriculture secretary, Rollins would advise the administration on how and whether to implement clean fuel tax credits for biofuels at a time when the sector is hoping to grow through the production of sustainable aviation fuel.

The nominee would also guide next year’s renegotiation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade deal, in the shadow of disputes over Mexico’s attempt to bar imports of genetically modified corn and Canada’s dairy import quotas.

Trump has said he again plans to institute sweeping tariffs that are likely to affect the farm sector.

He was considering offering the role to former U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler, a staunch ally whom he chose to co-chair his inaugural committee, CNN reported on Friday.