President Donald Trump has signed an executive order seeking to limit states’ powers in the approval or rejection of new oil and gas pipeline projects. CNBC reports the signing was scheduled for a trip to Texas yesterday, and expectations are that opponents of new oil and gas infrastructure will challenge it in court. Some lawyers have noted the states’ powers to grant or refuse permits for federal infrastructure projects are stipulated in federal law and a presidential order cannot trump this. Energy independence and even dominance has been a top priority for the Trump administration, and the president has made no secret of his intention to stimulate more fossil fuel production and use. To this end, he has been rolling back earlier, more stringent regulation regarding fossil fuels and reversing decisions made by President Obama including the veto on the Keystone XL oil pipeline. Now, President Trump wants to […]