Sharon Juve: Who’s really benefiting from Trump's energy orders? Not us

To The Daily Sun,

Since January, President Donald Trump has signed at least eight executive orders reshaping U.S. environmental and energy policy. Behind the rhetoric of “unleashing American energy” and “cutting red tape” lies a stark reality that demands urgent attention — especially here in New Hampshire.

More than $150 million in federal funding for our state is now frozen. These aren’t abstract numbers; they represent canceled home weatherization projects, abandoned solar installations, halted heat pump incentives, and stalled EV infrastructure — initiatives that would have cut energy costs, supported small businesses, and created local jobs.

One executive order halts offshore wind development entirely, ceding U.S. energy leadership to foreign competitors. Another dismantles Environmental Justice offices — programs created to protect vulnerable communities from disproportionate pollution burdens. Most concerning, federal agencies are now being directed to challenge state-level climate laws, an unprecedented intrusion on state sovereignty.

These actions mirror Project 2025’s stated goal: dismantling the EPA’s enforcement capabilities. Meanwhile, our air and water monitoring systems — our first line of defense — remain weakened by long-standing staffing cuts.

Let’s be clear: these policies aren’t about efficiency or prosperity for everyday Americans. While fossil fuel interests cheer, communities like ours face the fallout — canceled programs, lost jobs, and heightened pollution risks. The winners? Corporate and foreign interests gaining sweeping access to our public resources, without meaningful oversight.

New Hampshire deserves more than slogans about “energy dominance.” We deserve a clear-eyed accounting of who these policies serve — and who they sacrifice.

Sharon Juve

Meredith