Posted on 10/13/2021 2:37:03 PM PDT by MNJohnnie
The Biden administration is weighing its options to deal with fuel and natural gas shortages that have caused prices to surge in recent weeks ahead of the winter season, said White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Wednesday.
“The president has asked his economic team, as they do on any range of issues impacting the public, to continue to discuss what the options are that we can take to address these shortages,” Psaki said during a news briefing.
Without elaborating, Psaki said that she is “not in a position yet to outline additional steps we can take” and said there is a “range” of steps the Biden administration can take.
The U.S. average for gas prices was $3.288 per gallon as of Wednesday, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA). The Energy Information Administration (EIA) warned (pdf) that the cost of heating oil is expected to rise about 43 percent compared to last year due to “higher expected fuel costs as well as more consumption of energy due to a colder winter.”
The agency expects propane to rise by 54 percent, natural gas costs to rise by 30 percent, and overall electricity costs to rise by about 6 percent. The average U.S. household could spend around $1,734 in heating oil during the 2021 to 2022 winter season, which is up from about $1,210 during the past winter season.
“As we have moved beyond what we expect to be the deepest part of the pandemic-related economic downturn, growth in energy demand has generally outpaced growth in supply,” EIA acting Administrator Steve Nalley said. “These dynamics are raising energy prices around the world.”
U.S. crude oil this week reached $80 a barrel for the first time in seven years, as the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) started restricting output.
On Wednesday, Psaki responded to reports claiming Biden administration officials are meeting with oil and gas companies, saying she is not aware of any discussions between the administration and energy companies.
The spike in energy prices—namely gas—is sure to trigger even more criticism against the Biden administration. Republicans and industry groups have faulted President Joe Biden for moving to suspend construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, aggressively pushing for electric vehicles and renewable energy sources, and later asking for more crude oil production from OPEC and Saudi Arabia rather than depending on domestic production.
In 2019, oil production hit a record of nearly 13 million barrels per day. But the Energy Department on Wednesday stated that output will average only 11 million barrels per day in 2021 before rising to 11.7 million barrels per day in 2022.
In 2019, oil production hit a record of nearly 13 million barrels per day. But the Energy Department on Wednesday stated that output will average only 11 million barrels per day in 2021 before rising to 11.7 million barrels per day in 2022.
Hmmm….. maybe allow pipelines to be built, oil and gas exploration, new refineries to be built; just for a start. You know, normal, sane things like that.
Simple: do what Trump did.
Drill Brandon, drill.
He will not do the one thing that will fix the shortage. The only other thing that can lower the price of gas is to nationalize the industry and divorce price from market forces. Then he must also ration it. That then creates other problems to solve.
If he increases production, Greta will be sad as her childhood will be stolen
I’m shaking my head like the killer in the Geico Halloween commercials
Even funnier, do what 0bama did. Even he had a better energy policy then Bugout Biden
Nope. Ration gas in red states and transferring excess to blue states is more likely..
I’m sure cancelling some more Pipelines will do the trick.
I don’t need the gas industry. I take the bus.
Dick head
Why do I think that the White House will come up with some answer along the lines of we are mandated to ride city buses to get to work? Can only drive for unnecessary (by their definition) driving on odd-numbered months? They’ll set up some community ride-sharing programs, which will required tens of thousands of new federal employees?
Yep. Would take undoing everything he’s done in the area so far. Instead, they’ll probably settle on rationing of some type, along with taxes that keep the little people from using energy.
Easy peasy!
1) Reverse all Biden energy policies.
2) Re-implement all Trump energy policies. (see #1 for details)
Instant improvement in energy supply!
Here is my one point plan: Resign.
Weighing steps? All he had to do in the first place was nothing. He could go back to that.
Let Brandon step down and put someone with half a brain take his place.
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