In an odd turn of events this week, President Biden appeared to do a complete 180 from the previously stated White House position that the administration is using every tool in its toolbox to encourage increased U.S. oil production, as a tool to lower the price at the pump. Let’s hear the president’s seemingly new position in his own words:
“Here’s the situation. And when it comes to the gas prices, we’re going through an incredible transition that is taking place that, God willing, when it’s over, we’ll be stronger and the world will be stronger and less reliant on fossil fuels when this is over.”
As Forbes contributor David Blackmon explains:
“It was a mistake since, although running prices for fossil fuel-generated energy higher has always been part of the plan for Biden’s Green New Deal energy policies, admitting it aloud in public was not supposed to be part of the messaging… After admitting that high energy costs are an integral part of making the transition work, Mr. Biden then seemed to realize his rhetorical mistake, insisting that his administration’s policies have not made the problem of rising prices worse. Thus, he was back on message.”
And while the president’s comments may have been a slip of the tongue, they do align with recent statements by White House National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy who said in an MSNBC interview:
“President Biden remains absolutely committed to not moving forward with additional drilling on public lands.”
Further, while the administration has maintained that “there is nothing standing in the way of domestic oil production,” its actions have sent mixed messages on the accuracy of that statement. Just last week, the Department of Interior released a press release confirming that the next five-year offshore plan may not even include lease sales – something that has never occurred before, and to which Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) responded:
“It looks like y’all are going to shut everything down. Did you know you all put this out? … My God somebody, this shuts it down. This shows what your intent is.”
…
“We’ve never done this. This is history. We’ve never done that before, not issue leases if you put a plan out. The plan has always been a long-term five-year plan to lease.”
The mixed messages seem to get clearer with every new comment and action from the administration – and it’s not in favor of increased domestic oil and natural gas production.
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