President Joe Biden and his administration have been working tirelessly to end all sorts of Trump-era policies projects that would’ve strengthened the country on all fronts of energy independence. But Biden campaigned on the war against fossil fuels and tried to ignite the suspensions of gas and oil leases as a way to “combat climate change.” Former President Donald Trump tried to warn people about what he was talking about, but nobody wanted to listen.
Biden has been heavily criticized for making anti-energy moves in the country, such as revoking the permit for the Keystone XL oil pipeline project on his first day in office. He claimed it was included in a series of orders that would “combat climate change.” He also suspended oil and gas permits on federal land and waters, which was a devastating move for many states.
Montana, in particular, would’ve had about 285 miles of Keystone pipeline on its land, which would’ve created thousands of jobs and paid for local infrastructure, law enforcement, and schools.
Meanwhile, Biden is asking the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to produce more oil. The OPEC consists of the world’s largest oil producers, including many nonmember Russian allies. There must be a lot of money to be made in that.
Biden called on OPEC and their allies to increase their oil production to make up for the soaring gas prices while keeping the U.S supply limited. The rising gas prices are due to the loss of energy independence within the country under the Biden Administration. The U.S had the opportunity to produce more jobs in the country rather than rely on foreign countries but chose not to. They’ll revoke a permit for the Keystone XL Project but request more oil from OPEC. It makes no sense.
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte called the OPEC request a “horrendous move” on Biden’s part, adding that the U.S could’ve increased national security and paid more Americans instead of relying on foreign countries.
“Now we see the president begging OPEC for more oil. It’s really horrendous and the reality is we could have produced these fuels here, creating American jobs and increasing national security,” Gianforte said.
President of the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers Jason Mogdin said that the Biden Administration’s decisions have “hamstrung” U.S oil production and sent prices in the north up by reducing its supply. The states have warned Biden to “stay out of the way” and let them drill instead of turning to OPEC, but the president has continued to plead with a foreign government.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott also wrote a letter to the White House insisting that they let American workers produce the oil to reduce gasoline prices rather than OPEC. The states have been severely punished with unfriendly radical-left policies that attack fossil fuels. What’s next?
The American Petroleum Institute (API) is not waiting to drill any longer and insists that the Biden administration is costing them jobs and revenue. API, along with 11 other groups, have filed a lawsuit at the Western District of Louisiana federal court in order to reinstate the “unprecedented” leases that halted the drilling.
“The law is clear: the department must hold lease sales and provide a justification for significant policy changes. They have yet to meet these requirements in the eight months since instituting a federal leasing pause, which continues to create uncertainty for U.S. natural gas and oil producers,” API Chief Legal Officer Paul Afonso said.
While the Biden Administration should’ve been wrapped up by now, interior officials are not commenting on the suit. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland last shared in May that a report would be released in the early summer. It’s well past the “late summer” and there’s still no report. Only time will tell just how bad the gas prices get and how many high-paying energy jobs this is costing people by getting delayed.
