Post-Election Analysis 2020: Energy & Environment

Key Takeaways

• The Biden Administration likely will be more active than Congress in changing energy and environmental policy, especially to reverse regulatory actions taken by the Trump Administration. For example, President-elect Biden is expected to revoke President Trump's executive orders affecting energy and the environment and to direct his administration to repeal changes to National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations and to the definition of "waters of the United States."
• President-elect Biden proposed a $2 trillion climate plan that aims to achieve a carbon-free power sector by 2035 and net-zero emissions economy-wide by 2050, which aligns with Democratic climate goals. Given the divided Congress, Democrats will rely on the Biden Administration to pursue many of the climate policies through regulations, administrative policy, and enforcement, rather than through legislation. Narrow bipartisan proposals that were started during the 116th