Voices of the 8th: What is Energy Independence?

Congressman Gabe Evans took part in an event called the Great American Comeback Tour on Monday the 29th. Upon registration, I found out the time and place would be kept private until Sunday the 28th of June, one day before the event. At 8:01 the morning of the 28th, registered guests discovered the event was to be held in 24 hours and that they must arrive before 8:15am to ensure entry to the building. Unfortunately, even though I registered to attend the event, I was unable to make it, however a few members of Vot8 did.

Chris Wright was also on the bill for the Great American Comeback Tour. Wright is the former CEO of North America’s second largest hydraulic fracturing company and served on the board of both a nuclear technology company as well as a Canadian mineral rights and mining rights royalty payment company. If you don’t know what those titles mean, no worries; it’s not important because he now assumes the title of U.S. Secretary of Energy.

Prior to this event, I had no idea who Chris Wright is, or was in his previous occupancy. However, event attendee Kelly with Colorado ACLU states, “Capitalism was pushed as a very good thing, as was opening federal lands for ‘energy independence,’ as he coined it.” The idea of the US having untapped sources of energy wasn’t new, but the dots hadn’t been connected to federal land.

Let’s dig in.

The first step was to identify if federal lands did indeed have energy reserves beneath their beauty. Over at USGS.gov, an article was published late June 2025 stating, “29.4 billion barrels of oil, 391.6 trillion cubic feet of gas estimated, significant increases from previous estimates.” It appears that the U.S. Geographical Survey hasn’t released estimates for untapped oil and gas reserves since 1998. Since then the change didn’t lie in the subsurface, but in the evolution of the way we produce energy. “Those estimates focused on conventional oil and gas accumulations and did not include all unconventional resources such as shale oil, tight oil and tight gas (oil and gas trapped in impermeable rock), and coal-bed gas, which are routinely produced using fracking and are now part of USGS oil and gas assessments” (USGS Releases Report on Oil and Gas Potential beneath U.S. Public Lands, 2025)

The last quote from this article is just for the reader to keep a pin in until we find the answer to our next question: “The onshore public lands of the U.S. included in the report are those administered by the Departments of Agriculture, Defense, Energy and Interior and the Tennessee Valley Authority.”

Now we know that there is a government backed basis that the potential of oil and gas reserves reside under federal land, but what is considered federal land?

Congress.gov has a comprehensive document which describes how federal land is designated. Pull that pin: “Four agencies manage almost all U.S. federal land: the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and National Park Service (NPS) in the Department of the Interior (DOI), and the U.S. Forest Service (FS) in the Department of Agriculture.” The overlap of agencies which manage designated federal lands and agencies that will be affected by energy independence is stark. It should be noted, “Mineral development is allowed on most BLM lands, but new development is prohibited by law or executive action in some BLM areas, such as many national monuments.”(Federal Land Designations: A Brief Guide, n.d.)

There is a long list of designated federal land, but a few examples in Colorado include James Peak Protection Area, and Hotchkiss National Fish Hatchery.

Unleashing American Energy, or Executive Order 14154, claims that ideologically motivated regulations have halted the nation’s economic prosperity. As a result, there is a well of potential job growth that has been neglected. Additionally, due to the limitations of natural resource development in America, the country faces high energy and transportation costs. The the document states, “It is the policy of the United States to encourage energy exploration and production on Federal lands and waters, including on the Outer Continental Shelf, in order to meet the needs of our citizens and solidify the United States as a global energy leader long into the future;” and “Within 30 days of the date of this order, the head of each agency shall, in consultation with the director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the National Economic Council (NEC), develop and begin implementing action plans to suspend, revise, or rescind all agency actions identified as unduly burdensome under subsection (a) of this section, as expeditiously as possible and consistent with applicable law.” 

In other words, federal lands and waters are subject to oil and gas development in the name of U.S “economic nourishment and wellness of citizens.” Effective immediately, that was January 20, 2025, agency heads had 30 days to consult with Russell Vought and Kevin Hassett to arrange the dismantling of any action that contradicts the probe of federal land and water. 

What that means.

Here are a few of the executive orders that are being rolled back under Section 4 of Executive Order 14154-Unleashing American Energy:

Executive Order 13990 Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis

This EO provides safeguards to communities by ensuring science is at the forefront of decision making in regards to public health, conservation, and the environment. It aimed, among other objectives, “to improve public health and protect our environment; to ensure access to clean air and water; to limit exposure to dangerous chemicals and pesticides; to hold polluters accountable, including those who disproportionately harm communities of color and low-income communities; to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; to bolster resilience to the impacts of climate change; to restore and expand our national treasures and monuments; and to prioritize both environmental justice and the creation of the well-paying union jobs necessary to deliver on these goals.”

Executive Order 14057 Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability

The intent of this EO was to, “create and sustain jobs, including well-paying union jobs; support a just transition to a more sustainable economy for American workers; strengthen America’s communities; protect public health; and advance environmental justice.” 

My understanding is that this executive order envisioned new jobs for the American people while protecting public health and the environment. 

Executive Order 14072 Strengthening the Nation’s Forests, Communities, and Local Economies

“It is the policy of my Administration, in consultation with State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments, as well as the private sector, nonprofit organizations, labor unions, and the scientific community, to pursue science-based, sustainable forest and land management; conserve America’s mature and old-growth forests on Federal lands; invest in forest health and restoration; support indigenous traditional ecological knowledge and cultural and subsistence practices; honor Tribal treaty rights; and deploy climate-smart forestry practices and other nature-based solutions to improve the resilience of our lands, waters, wildlife, and communities in the face of increasing disturbances and chronic stress arising from climate impacts. It is also the policy of my Administration, as outlined in Conserving and Restoring America the Beautiful, to support collaborative, locally led conservation solutions.” 

The importance of maintaining and strengthening forests on federal lands is highlighted throughout this document. It’s also stated that a slew of local economies prosper because forests in the area provide sought after activities to travelers and residents alike. 

Executive Order 14096 Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All 

The purpose of this executive order was centered around public health and prosperity. Its goal: “To fulfill our Nation’s promises of justice, liberty, and equality, every person must have clean air to breathe; clean water to drink; safe and healthy foods to eat; and an environment that is healthy, sustainable, climate-resilient, and free from harmful pollution and chemical exposure. Restoring and protecting a healthy environment—wherever people live, play, work, learn, grow, and worship—is a matter of justice and a fundamental duty that the Federal Government must uphold on behalf of all people. … We must advance environmental justice for all by implementing and enforcing the Nation’s environmental and civil rights laws, preventing pollution, addressing climate change and its effects, and working to clean up legacy pollution that is harming human health and the environment. Advancing environmental justice will require investing in and supporting culturally vibrant, sustainable, and resilient communities in which every person has safe, clean, and affordable options for housing, energy, and transportation.” 

With the implementation of Unleashing American Energy, all activities, programs, and operations associated with the American Climate Corps, including actions taken by any agency shall be terminated immediately.  

The American Climate Corps was an initiative introduced on September 20, 2023 that would, “provide individuals with access to training necessary to enter careers in the clean energy, conservation, and climate resilience economy.” The American Climate Corps(ACC)  hoped to enlist young people specifically in programs that would, “focus on a wide range of projects including conservation and restoration efforts, clean energy deployment, forest management, and implementation of energy efficient technologies.” While the ACC was the initiative, the Memorandum of Understanding sought to implement the project through numerous agencies including, “the Department of Labor (DOL), the Department of the Interior (DOI), the Department of Agriculture (USDA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Department of Energy (DOE), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)” RE: the pin

Unleashing American Energy states that the Secretaries of Defense, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, Energy, Homeland Security, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Chairman of CEQ, and the heads of any other relevant agencies shall undertake all available efforts to eliminate all delays within their respective permitting processes, including through, but not limited to, the use of general permitting and permit by rule.  For any project an agency head deems essential for the Nation’s economy or national security, agencies shall use all possible authorities, including emergency authorities, to expedite the adjudication of Federal permits.  Agencies shall work closely with project sponsors to realize the ultimate construction or development of permitted projects.”  

This section makes clear that heads of these agencies must use every resource available to accelerate the dismemberment process. If there is an agency head that believes a project is crucial for the economy or security of the U.S., the judgement from Vought or Hasset on whether or not the project can continue must also be performed with haste. 

Executive order 14154, Unleashing American Energy, is a relatively short, easy to understand document. If the reader is curious about a former, now rebuked, executive order they can simply use their preferred browser to search the EO number. While I gave a broad list of examples from the Executive Order, there are many more to research and I urge readers to do so on their own time.  

References:

Executive Order 14057-Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability. (2021). https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/DCPD-202101033/pdf/DCPD-202101033.pdf

Executive Order 13990-Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis. (2021). https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/01/25/2021-01765/protecting-public-health-and-the-environment-and-restoring-science-to-tackle-the-climate-crisis?aff_id=1314

Executive Order 14072-Strengthening the Nation’s Forests, Communities, and Local Economies. (2022). https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/DCPD-202101033/pdf/DCPD-202101033.pd

Executive Order 14096-Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All. (2023). https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/DCPD-202300319/pdf/DCPD-202300319.pdf  

Executive order 14154- Unleashing American Energy. (2025) https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/unleashing-american-energy/

Federal Land Designations: A Brief Guide. (n.d.). Retrieved June 30, 2026, from https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/R/PDF/R45340/R45340.6.pdf

USGS Releases Report on Oil and Gas Potential Beneath U.S. Public Lands. (2025). USGS. https://www.usgs.gov/news/science-snippet/usgs-releases-report-oil-and-gas-potential-beneath-us-public-lands

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• CHP Fair Tax Greeley Porch Canvass: July 11 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Join Center for Health Progress for a Fair Tax Porch Canvass in Greeley! Help us build relationships and grow our base in Weld County through meaningful conversations about affordability and fair taxes. No canvassing experience is required—training, materials, and support will be provided prior to the event. Whether you’re a seasoned volunteer or joining us for the first time, we’d love to have you with us!

Register here: https://secure.everyaction.com/2FCtJr8DMk-coMw4cTfCuQ2

• Jamie Jeffery for Colorado SD1-Candidate Open House: July 12 @ 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm

YOU are Invited! Jamie Jeffery for Colorado Senate District 1 is coming to Greeley! Stop by to say hi, ask questions, and explore the LINC library space. Light refreshments provided. We hope to see you there!

Event Contacts: Jamie Jeffery – 208.724.7674 / Richard Webster – 970.324.7122