Navigating Climate Policy Uncertainty for Manufacturers

To date, President Donald Trump’s current climate and environmental policy changes aim to relax regulations in emissions standards, energy efficiency, and environmental permitting. 

Key federal moves in recent executive orders and a tidal wave of EPA press releases include:

• Reevaluating the “social cost of carbon”
• Promoting energy exploration on federal lands
• Eliminating the electric vehicle mandate

EPA Actions to Note 

Adjusted enforcement priorities: Refocusing enforcement on matters presenting imminent harm to the environment or human health. 

Clean air regulations: Reevaluating air quality rules may reduce reporting burdens and/or allow more production time. For example, EPA recently announced that companies could request via email a “presidential exemption” from certain clean air emissions requirements, including mercury and “hazardous air pollutants” in certain facilities. 

Environmental justice and DEI programs ended: Prior programs with rules for overburdened communities are effectively gone. EPA has stated its priority will focus on specific contamination/risks applicable at any given time.  

These regulatory adjustments take time to go into effect, as they must navigate the rulemaking process, which includes public comments, legal challenges and potential reversals by future administrations. 

For manufacturers, this means that while regulatory relief may be forthcoming in certain areas, immediate operational changes may not be necessary—or even available yet.

Connecticut’s Firm Stance

Despite federal deregulation, Connecticut maintains strong environmental protections that generally apply in addition to federal rules:

• State leadership actively opposes federal rollbacks
• Collaboration with other states reinforces strict air quality standards
• The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has not put forth any significant regulatory actions in connection with federal changes

Manufacturer Action Steps

• Stay alert: Follow federal and state climate and environmental policy developments closely
• Manage complexity: Understand differences between state and federal requirements
• Adapt strategically: Regularly review and update compliance strategies

Takeaway

Federal deregulation statements point to a less burdensome climate and environmental framework, but Connecticut’s steadfast environmental stance means manufacturers must understand and ensure compliance with both layers of requirements.  

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