Dive Brief:

• President Trump has made clear he intends to fully make good on his campaign promises to undo Obama-era energy and environmental rules and restrictions, but so far, the timing of a key piece remains unclear and could be delayed until next week, according to multiple media reports
• For weeks, the sector has been expecting orders that will begin the process of striking the Clean Power Plan and ending a moratorium on new coal mining on federal lands. Now, the New York Times reports those orders are expected before the end of next week.
• Last week, the White House issued an early budget proposal that included cuts of more than 30% to the Environmental Protection Agency, along with other cuts to research at the Department of Energy. 

Dive Insight:

President Trump has been in office for two months now, but so far has left the energy sector waiting as the new administration focused on security, immigration and health care. But now the New York Times and other news outlets report executive orders to begin dismantling the Clean Power Plan are expected next week, and even potentially sooner.

It would not be the first action on climate by the Trump White House: The President has signed an executive order directing the EPA to reconsider a controversial water protection rule, while also proposing to slash that agency's funding 31%. 

While the timing of the CPP executive order is unclear, details about its possible contents have emerged. It will reportedly not offer a replacement and directs the Department of Justice to not defend the plan at the D.C. Circuit court, according to the New York Times. President Obama's signature environmental rule would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 32% from existing power plants.

The court would have authority to drop the case at the Justice Department's request, if they so chose. Environmental groups would likely oppose that motion, however, potentially alleging the EPA is not fulfilling its obligations to regulate carbon dioxide, since the agency determined were a public health threat in a 2009 endangerment finding.

The order also reportedly does not mention the United Nations Paris climate accord. E&E News has previously reported Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump had played a role in removing language directed at the accord.