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Washington , DC – January 20: President Donald Trump signs a series of executive orders at the White House on January 20, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jabin Botsford /The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Jabin Botsford | The Washington Post | Getty Images

President Donald Trump has launched a sweeping offensive on energy during his first hours in office, issuing a raft of executive orders to boost fossil fuel production and roll back U.S. commitments to fight climate change.

It’s unclear what impact Trump’s initial actions will have on the energy industry. The CEOs of Exxon and Chevron have said oil and gas production levels are based on market conditions and are unlikely to change meaningfully in response to Trump’s desire to “drill, baby, drill.” The U.S. has been the world’s largest oil and gas producer for years now. And some of Trump’s orders will likely be challenged in court.

Still, the president has made a clear political statement that the U.S. is abandoning the Biden administration’s focus on fighting climate change through a transition to cleaner energy sources.

Instead, Trump is prioritizing fossil fuel projects to “solidify the United States as a global energy leader long into the future.” Here are the key actions Trump has taken on energy so far.

1. Declares energy emergency

Trump has declared a national energy emergency, arguing that the U.S. faces a “precariously inadequate and intermittent energy supply, and an increasingly unreliable grid” that threatens national security.

Electricity demand is expected to surge in the coming years from data centers that support artificial intelligence and the expansion of domestic manufacturing. The largest grid operator in the U.S., PJM Interconnection, has warned it could face electricity shortfalls as coal plants are retired faster than new capacity is connected to the grid.

Trump has directed federal agencies to identify and exercise any lawful emergency authorities available to them to facilitate the production, transportation, refining and generation of domestic energy sources. He also ordered agencies to use all emergency authorities available to expedite new energy infrastructure projects.

2. Rolls back climate commitments

Trump ordered the U.S. to begin withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement. The landmark international treaty seek to limit rising global temperatures 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

Under the treaty’s terms, a country can exit the agreement one year after providing notification that it intends to withdraw. But Trump’s executive order states the U.S. will consider its withdrawal to be effective as soon as the U.N. Secretary-General receives written notification.

Trump has also scrapped ambitious Biden administration goals that aimed for half of new cars sales to be electric vehicles, for the electric grid to be free of carbon pollution, and for the economy to produce net-zero emissions.

3. Expand drilling, natural gas exports

Trump issued an order to revoke Biden’s ban on oil and gas drilling in most U.S. coastal waters. It is unclear whether Trump actually has the authority to do this and the order will likely face litigation. A federal court struck down a similar order by Trump during his first term that sought to reverse President Barack Obama’s decision to protect waters in the Arctic and Atlantic.

Trump also issued an order Monday that aims to maximize the production of natural resources in Alaska. The order prioritizes the development of liquified natural gas projects and directs the federal government to expedite permitting and leasing of energy projects in the state.

The president reversed the Biden administration’s pause on new liquified natural gas export facilities. Trump directed the energy secretary to start reviewing new LNG projects as quickly as possible.

4. Rolls back clean energy incentives

Trump ordered all federal agencies to immediately pause the disbursement of funds under the Inflation Reduction Act, the Biden-era climate law that has provided financial support for clean energy.

The president specifically ordered a halt to funding for electric vehicle charging stations. He also directed his administration to consider ending subsidies and other policies that favor electric vehicles.

Trump targeted wind energy in a standalone executive order. The president temporarily suspended new or renewed leases for offshore and onshore wind projects. He also halted the leasing of wind power projects in the outer continental shelf.

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Trump’s first day, Hyundai lease deals, and Volvo’s EVs arrive in the US

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Trump's first day, Hyundai lease deals, and Volvo's EVs arrive in the US

On today’s episode of Quick Charge, President Trump has a wild first day in office, but it’s not ALL bad, either. Plus: Tesla gets diner integration, Hyundai keeps the deal train rolling, and it’s dad’s 80th birthday.

We also look ahead to some possible discounts for Tesla insurance customers, some news on the upcoming “cheap” Cybertruck, and wonder out loud if Puerto Rico’s billion dollar solar project is going to see the light of day. All this and more – enjoy!

Prefer listening to your podcasts? Audio-only versions of Quick Charge are now available on Apple PodcastsSpotifyTuneIn, and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded, usually, Monday through Thursday (and sometimes Sunday). We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage daily news.

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Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.

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Stripe cuts 300 jobs in product, engineering and operations

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Stripe cuts 300 jobs in product, engineering and operations

The Stripe logo on a smartphone with U.S. dollar banknotes in the background.

Budrul Chukrut | SOPA Images | LightRocket via Getty Images

Stripe cut 300 jobs, representing about 3.5% of its workforce, mostly in product, engineering and operations, CNBC has confirmed.

The payments company, valued at about $70 billion in the private markets, still expects to increase headcount by 10,000 by the end of the year, which would be a 17% increase, and is “not slowing down hiring,” according to a memo to staff from Chief People Office Rob McIntosh. Business Insider reported earlier on the cuts and the memo.

A Stripe spokesperson also confirmed to CNBC that a cartoon image of a duck with text that read, “US-Non-California Duck,” was accidentally attached as a PDF to emails sent to some of the employees who were laid off. Some of the emails mistakenly provided affected employees with an incorrect termination date, the spokesperson said.

McIntosh sent a follow-up email to staffers apologizing for the “notification error” and “any confusion it caused.”

“Corrected and full notifications have since been sent to all impacted Stripes,” he wrote.

In 2022, Stripe cut roughly 1,100 jobs, or 14% of its workers, downsizing alongside most of the tech industry, as soaring inflation and rising interest rates forced companies to focus on profits over growth. The Information reported that Stripe had a few dozen layoffs in its recruiting department in 2023.

Stripe’s valuation sank from a peak of $95 billion in 2021 to $50 billion in 2023, before reportedly rebounding to $70 billion last year as part of a secondary share sale. The company ranked third on last year’s CNBC Disruptor 50 list.

In October, Stripe agreed to pay $1.1 billion for crypto startup Bridge Network, whose technology is focused on making it easy for businesses to transact using digital currencies. 

Brothers Patrick and John Collison, who founded Stripe in 2010, have intentionally steered clear of the public markets and have given no indication that an offering is on the near-term horizon. Total payment volume at the company surpassed $1 trillion in 2023.

WATCH: Early Bridge investor weighs in on $1.1 billion Stripe deal

Early Bridge investor weighs in on $1.1 billion Stripe deal

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Rivian is offering up to $6,000 to upgrade your R1S or R1T

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Rivian is offering up to ,000 to upgrade your R1S or R1T

Thinking about upgrading your EV? Rivian (RIVN) launched a new promo on Tuesday, offering up to $6,000 to upgrade your R1S or R1T. Here’s how you can snag some savings.

Rivian R1S and R1T upgrade deal offers up to $6,000

Rivian delivered over 51,500 vehicles last year as the EV maker gains momentum. Although it was only slightly higher than the ~50,100 delivered in 2023, Rivian is expected to see even more growth this year.

After shutting down its Normal, IL manufacturing plant last April and renegotiating supplier contracts, Rivian has seen “significant cost improvements,” according to CEO RJ Scaringe.

Rivian also began delivering its next-gen R1S and R1T models last year. The new Large and Max battery packs have redesigned modules and more efficient packaging, “making them easier to manufacture and service.” For example, Rivian’s new EVs use seven ECUs, down from 17 in the first-generation R1T and R1S.

With new plant upgrades, reworked supplier contracts, and more efficient vehicles, Rivian is now passing the savings on to customers.

Rivian-EV-upgrade-$6,000
Rivian R1T (left) and R1S (right) electric vehicles (Source: Rivian)

Rivian introduced a new promo on Tuesday, offering up to $6,000 to upgrade your R1T or R1S. The bonus amount varies by trim:

  • Tri with Max battery: $6,000 USD / CAD 8,600
  • Dual with Max battery and Performance upgrade: $4,500 USD / CAD 6,500
  • Dual with Max battery: $3,000 USD / CAD 4,300

The offer is for current R1T or R1S owners or lessees in the US and Canada. Rivian launched the new promo on January 21, and it runs through March 31, 2025.

After you purchase or lease a qualifying vehicle, Rivian will apply a discount toward the MSRP. You must take delivery by March 31, 2025. In the fine print, Rivian stated, “You must request a trade-in estimate to qualify for this offer, but trade-in of a vehicle is not required.”

Rivian-EV-upgrade-$6,000
Rivian R1S (Source: Rivian)

Any other models are excluded from the offer. These include Dual Standard configurations, Dual with Large battery configurations, custom builds, demo vehicles, and pre-owned vehicles.

The new offer follows Rivian’s previous upgrade promo introduced last October, giving qualifying gas-powered vehicle owners or lessees up to $3,000.

Check out the Rivian R1 Shop to view eligible models. You can see eligible Rivian R1S here and R1T models here.

Electrek’s Take

Rivian’s R1S was already the tenth best-selling electric vehicle in the US last year, with nearly 27,000 models sold. With more driving range and power at a lower cost, the electric SUV could see even more demand in 2025.

Then again, with the arrival of new luxury electric SUVs, like the Jeep Wagoneer S and Volvo EX90, Rivian will face more competition in the US.

Rivian’s latest promo comes as the Company looks to carry the momentum from the end of 2024 into the new year. The EV maker is offering other deals, including 1.99% APR for 60 months on the R1 Dual with a Max Battery and Performance upgrade.

Even if you are not eligible for the promo, we can still help you find deals on Rivian’s electric SUV in your area. You can use our links below to view offers on the Rivian R1S and R1T near you today.

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