Leverage Federal Lands to Ignite a New Energy Revolution in America
Can America still construct large-scale projects?
Donald Trump has the opportunity to demonstrate that the answer remains yes — by innovating how the country develops energy infrastructure. In doing so, he could rejuvenate our economy and strengthen our global standing.
Trump’s prospects hinge on his strategic appointments to three crucial federal agencies: Doug Burgum at the Interior Department, Lee Zeldin at the Environmental Protection Agency, and Chris Wright at the Energy Department.
He should direct them to bypass the National Environmental Policy Act — the principal obstacle to US infrastructure and energy supremacy — by establishing zones where energy initiatives are both encouraged and rapidly implemented.
Let’s name them “American Abundance Zones.”
The necessity of moving beyond NEPA is evident: The well-meaning 1970 legislation has evolved from a straightforward environmental review process into a stranglehold on infrastructure progress, obstructing solar initiatives in Arizona, pipelines across the Midwest, and LNG terminals in Texas.
NEPA has turned into a lawsuit machine that prevents the construction of many small energy projects, while international rivals like China deploy massive infrastructure projects with remarkable speed.
Consider China’s nearly three-fold increase in nuclear power generation since 2014.
The remedy is to designate specific zones on federal land where innovators could promptly deploy energy infrastructure without the hindrance of NEPA permit delays or legal challenges.
This could encompass nuclear facilities, transmission lines, pipelines, large-scale battery systems, wind farms, solar farms, and more.
These zones would be easiest to create in western states, where the federal government controls significant expanses of land.
However, even in the Eastern, Southern, and Midwestern US, federal-owned land can be repurposed for this initiative.
Federal law grants the executive branch considerable discretion regarding the usage of federal territory — and the Biden administration itself has proposed leveraging this authority to circumvent NEPA requirements for geothermal projects.
The Trump administration could go much further.
Trump’s cabinet members at Interior, EPA, and Energy could collaborate to designate abundance zones across the 640 million acres managed by the federal government. Each could then implement specific measures to ensure the effectiveness of these zones.
Initiatives would start with the Department of the Interior, which typically oversees federal land. Burgum could simplify land-use review processes and pre-approve optimal locations for quick development while ensuring responsible management of public assets.
The Bureau of Land Management could initiate an expedited leasing program for federal lands specifically designated for clean energy projects, such as solar and geothermal, within these zones.
Zeldin at the EPA could establish uniform environmental standards for all projects within these zones, eliminating the need for individual project reviews and significantly accelerating construction timelines.
Lastly, under Wright’s guidance, the Energy Department could expedite project approvals, particularly for emerging technologies like small modular nuclear reactors.
For instance, the department could develop overarching safety standards for these reactors or propose template designs for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to swiftly approve.
This three-part strategy would unlock vast areas for energy infrastructure.
No lengthy reviews.
No expensive legal battles.
Just American energy preeminence — constructed at what used to be American pace.
And while extreme environmentalists may assert that disaster is imminent, their alarmism can be dismissed as the barrier it has always been to advancement.
Effective environmental protection doesn’t necessitate endless evaluations. Good governance shouldn’t impede innovation with bureaucratic hurdles.
Furthermore, America should not feel guilty for striving to lead in the economic competition of the 21st century.
Increased energy production is especially critical for America’s dominance in advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, which demand substantial energy — far beyond what our nation currently generates or has viable plans to produce.
Abundant energy would also facilitate solutions like ocean desalination to supply water for expanding urban areas and industries, as well as vertical farming in large buildings, which is more effective than traditional farming that requires extensive land.
However, these innovations aren’t practical right now — due to a lack of affordable and abundant energy.
The most effective way to unlock American energy and economic growth would be through comprehensive reform of NEPA, or ideally, its repeal.
This may be challenging in a closely divided Congress, so optimizing the utilization of federal lands is the next best alternative.
As new energy initiatives commence and come online promptly, they would remind our populace of the possibilities that arise when we dismantle the regulatory barriers obstructing progress.
By establishing American Abundance Zones, President Trump can pave the way for a more prosperous economic future, while restoring the belief among Americans that such a future is feasible — and worth pursuing nationwide.
Christopher Koopman is CEO and Josh T. Smith leads energy policy at the nonprofit Abundance Institute.
