Trump's "Dumpster Fire" of an Energy Policy a Roadmap to Climate Calamity

Republican nominee Donald Trump unveiled his economic and energy plan on Thursday and environmentalists are incensed, equating the infamous climate-change denier's policies to nothing less than a "dumpster fire."

During a speech at the Economic Club of New York, Trump detailed his "new policy of Americanism," as he called it, and explained how he plans to reach the goal of 4 percent economic growth through, essentially, a fossil-fueled, corporate-friendly free-for-all.

His plan includes: slashing corporate tax rates; scrapping regulations, such as the Waters of the U.S. Rule (pdf) and the Clean Power Plan; lifting restrictions on all sources of American energy, including the dirtiest fossil fuels and offshore deposits; and "streamlin[ing] the permitting process for all energy infrastructure projects," like highly-controversial pipelines.

"The Trump Administration will unleash an energy revolution that will bring vast new wealth to our country," a campaign policy fact sheet declares. 

Going against nearly everything that scientists and campaigners have suggested for paring back U.S. emissions to meet the Paris climate goals and combat the global crisis, the Trump plan vows: "We will support coal production. We will support safe hydraulic fracturing. We will allow energy production on federal lands in appropriate areas. We will also open up vast areas of our offshore energy resources for safe production."

Sierra Club political director Khalid Pitts minced no words when responding to the plan.

"Donald Trump is the worst candidate for our climate and our environment in history," Pitts declared. "The only thing associated with his campaign that remotely resembles 'alternative energy' are the flames from the dumpster fire that is his energy policy—and those are obviously unhealthy to be around."

"Put simply," Pitts continued, "Trump's energy plan is this: he opposes any policy that will tackle the climate crisis or grow our clean energy economy, and he supports any policy that props up the dirty fossil fuel industry. Anyone with illusions that he cares about the health of American families just needs to note that a day after he was in Flint for a photo-op, he directly attacked clean water safeguards. American families deserve better than a con-man who cribs his speeches from fossil fuel CEOs."

It is a known fact that Trump, who is currently enjoying a recent surge in the polls, does not believe in the science of climate change. As noted climate scientist Michael Mann told ThinkProgress earlier this year, Trump's views on energy and climate change "constitute an existential threat to this planet."