US president Donald Trump told the government to “drill, baby, drill” during his state visit to the UK, which has prompted informed responses from energy and finance experts.
As well as these comments made towards the proliferation of oil and gas production, the president also said in a meeting with prime minister Keir Starmer that wind power is a “disaster”.
Trump met with Starmer in Chequers and as part of a joint press conference said: “We had the worst inflation in the history of our country and we had an expression that I used a lot: drill, baby, drill.
“And as you know, we brought fuel way down. The price is way down. And we don’t do wind because wind is a disaster. It’s a very expensive joke, frankly, and we got our energy prices way down.”
Continuing his discussion with Starmer, Trump further alluded to how the US’ switch to focusing on a continuation of oil and gas production, rather than incorporating more renewable energy in the electricity generation mix, has brought energy prices down.
He said: “That [oil and gas production] brought the inflation way down and now we have very little inflation and we have a very, very strong economy.
“So that was very important. Drill, baby, drill. And you have a great asset here… it’s called the North Sea. The North Sea oil is phenomenal.”
Trump has made no secret of his distaste for wind power in particular, having signed an executive order banning them in the USA on the first day of his second term. While visiting his new golf course in Scotland in July he decried the site of offshore “windmills” and said: “it is the worst form of energy, the most expensive form of energy, but windmills should not be allowed”.
He also recently called a halt on an 80% complete £1.1bn offshore windfarm off the north east coast of the USA, which has prompted developer Ørsted and the states of Rhode Island and Connecticut to pursue legal action against his administration.
Trump visited the UK this week on his second official state visit after being invited by King Charles early in his second term as president. Starmer and his Labour government are keen to use the opportunity to strengthen ties with the United States administration.
With this being said, Starmer did not entirely agree with everything Trump had to say.
He said that he was “absolutely determined to ensure that the price and cost of energy comes down”.
“The mix will include oil and gas for many years to come from the North Sea,” he continued.
“We have been clear about that for some time, but we also need to mix that with renewables. And it’s the mix that’s really important.
“And the approach I’ve taken on this is the same approach that I say to many other things: a pragmatic approach,” he continued.
The North Sea is currently facing a period of turmoil as the Labour government made an election pledge to ban exploratory licenses in the North Sea as the UK looks to reduce the burning of fossil fuels in favour of wind, solar and nuclear energy generation.
In response, earlier this year, the Conservative party announced plans to reverse the pledge by supporting maximum oil and gas extraction from the region if it were to return to government.
The Energy Profits Levy, also known as the oil and gas windfall tax, is a temporary UK tax on enormous profits of oil and gas companies operating in the North Sea.
Response
A number of political and industry experts have further waded in on the issue following Trump’s remarks.
Greenpeace UK head of climate Mel Evans refuted Trump’s claims, saying that the wind turbines already generating power in the North Sea are already a significant contributor to the UK energy mix.
She said: “It’s funny that a man so full of hot air has such a big issue with wind. Our North Sea wind turbines are currently generating over half of Britain’s power, meaning that every other light and microphone at that press conference is being powered by wind.
“Keir Starmer would do well to ignore any energy advice given to him by a president funded by fossil fuel giants, and instead harness the huge economic, environmental and bill-saving benefits that cheaper, cleaner, more stable renewable power can bring.”
UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association CEO James Alexander said: “Investors know the North Sea oil and gas sector carries risks from soaring decommissioning costs and asset stranding – and will do little to address our long-term energy needs.
“Our shift to a clean economy presents a huge economic opportunity, which can drive growth, jobs and cut our dependence on expensive imported power, which is hitting businesses.
“The government must resist short-sighted calls to back our declining fossil fuel industry and instead focus on making the UK a leading destination for green investment.”
End Fuel Poverty Coalition said: “Donald Trump is urging the UK to ‘drill, baby, drill’ in the North Sea, claiming it will cut bills and boost the economy
But the facts tell a different story. The North Sea is running out of gas. More drilling won’t cut bills here, global markets set the price. In the US, bills are rising in 41 states + Washington DC despite Trump’s fossil-fuel push.
“The real way to bring bills down is investment in renewables, home insulation and fairer energy pricing, not clinging to a dying industry
“‘Drill, baby, drill’ isn’t a plan. It’s a slogan”
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said: “Not surprised Trump was so emphatic. It’s all we spoke about last night [during his visit].
“We have to get our oil and gas out of the North Sea. I’m serious about energy security cutting energy bills. We have to make the most of our natural resources. It’s mad to leave billions of pounds in there.”
Speaking with reporters during a visit to Brussels on 11 September, US secretary for energy Chris Wright described the UK’s decarbonisation effort as “heartbreaking.”
He said: “The UK example is to me heartbreaking. To see the birthplace of the industrial revolution export almost all of its energy-intensive industry, its steelmaking, its petrochemical making, its aluminium fabrication, it has been tough to watch as an outsider.”
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