API seeks ‘durable’ oil policy changes under Trump

By Shelby Webb | 01/14/2025 06:43 AM EST

The CEO of the American Petroleum Institute said oil and gas companies are looking for laws and regulations that will outlast the new administration.

Mike Sommers, CEO of the American Petroleum Institute.

Mike Sommers, CEO of the American Petroleum Institute. Nathan Howard/AP

One of the country’s most powerful oil and gas trade groups said the incoming Trump administration is focused on putting energy rules and laws on the books that can withstand executive orders from future presidents and court challenges.

American Petroleum Institute CEO Mike Sommers told reporters Monday that his organization’s conversations with the Trump transition team have been focused on “durable action that lasts the test of time.” API has called for rolling back greenhouse gas emissions standards for oil and gas production and for more offshore oil and gas drilling lease sales.

“Oftentimes, that means that it takes an act of Congress to get durable action enacted,” Sommers said. “And so we’re going to be working with Congress to make sure that what they’re focused on is putting a lot of these things in law, so they’re not just at the whims of executive orders from the swinging pendulum of American politics.”

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Sommers — who spoke on a media call ahead of API’s State of American Energy event set for Tuesday — did not specify any bills the organization is looking to support or how it’s working with Congress to enshrine some energy policies into law. API also did not respond to a follow-up request Monday for comment from POLITICO’s E&E News on its efforts.

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