Energy, Interior secretaries: Trump has ‘world-changing’ approach to energy

Two Cabinet members tasked largely with overseeing the nation’s energy supply largely credited President Trump for major changes they say have made American energy stronger.

Speaking on Friday at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Md., Energy Secretary Rick Perry pointed to the administration’s focus on deregulation for what he deemed an uptick in innovation.

“We have a role to play in balancing the regulations. This president and this administration, what he has done on the regulatory side has been nothing less than world changing,” Perry said. “What is happening in energy today is the confirmation of the conservative movement in my opinion, because we have innovators who didn’t believe in relying on the government.”

Speaking on the same panel, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke also seized upon “transformative” regulations under the president, saying that U.S. environmental regulations are still some of the strongest.

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“Environmentally, it is better to produce energy here under reasonable regulations than to see it produced overseas with none,” Zinke told the crowd.

The Interior Department head additionally credited Trump for the recent GOP tax reform package, which he said is responsible for dropping prices at the gas pump.

“American energy has delivered,” Zinke said. “That’s $40 in your pocket that you wouldn’t have.”

Crossing talking points, Zinke noted on the country’s recent status as a net exporter of liquid natural gas (LNG), saying, “That’s all President Donald Trump.”

Perry made similar comments on LNG imports, touching on one of his tried and true lines, “We don’t just export LNG, we export freedom.”

Zinke later mentioned Interior’s new reorganization plans as well as a plan unveiled in the White House’s recent budget to initiate a multibillion-dollar upgrade to infrastructure projects.

“We’re going to embark on what is called Mission 26, our largest investment in our public lands and park system in the history of this country. And it’s going to be funded from energy,” he said.