Trump Administration Pushes to Expedite Over 600 Energy Projects, Raising Environmental Concerns

The Army Corps of Engineers has designated hundreds of projects as 'emergencies,' potentially bypassing standard environmental reviews under a Trump executive order.

• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has listed 688 pending permit applications for over 600 projects as eligible for expedited approval under an 'energy emergency' declaration by President Trump.
• Projects include fossil fuel infrastructure such as pipelines, natural gas power plants, and mining operations, as well as non-energy-related developments like a gold mine and a housing subdivision.
• Environmental groups argue the move circumvents federal environmental laws, potentially harming wetlands, waterways, and communities while accelerating climate change impacts.
• Key projects under scrutiny include the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline tunnel in Michigan, oil pipelines in Louisiana, and a gas-fueled power plant in Texas, all of which face legal challenges from environmental advocates.
• The Army Corps has not clarified how these projects qualify as emergencies, and critics claim the declaration is being used to sidestep public input and environmental oversight.

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