As the Biden Administration faces allegations of withholding an energy policy study, questions arise about whether political ambitions take precedence over public interest.
Key Takeaways
- House Oversight leaders have launched an investigation into former President Biden’s energy policies for potentially raising prices and limiting consumer choices.
- Lawmakers argue that these policies contributed to high gas prices, electricity costs, and inflation.
- Significant regulatory costs have been reported as a result of policies prioritizing the Green New Deal over traditional energy sources.
- The Committee supports reversing Biden’s energy policies to enhance production and affordability.
- A draft study allegedly inconsistent with the Biden Administration’s LNG stance was reportedly suppressed.
Ongoing Investigations
House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer and Subcommittee Chairman Eric Burlison are currently investigating energy policies implemented by the former Biden Administration. Central to their inquiry are the apparent policy-driven increases in gas prices and residential electricity costs. In 2023, electricity prices reportedly experienced a six percent surge, the highest since the century’s beginning.
They express concerns over policies that allegedly prioritize Green New Deal initiatives over traditional energy sources, thereby restricting consumer choices and escalating costs. Letters have been sent to various federal agencies requesting briefings that could potentially inform new legislation.
Impact of Energy Policies
The investigation highlights that the Biden Administration’s policies may have created regulatory hurdles deterring traditional energy industries. Subcommittee Chairman Pat Fallon raised questions about the policies’ effects on global energy shortages. Dr. Oliver McPherson-Smith testified, “Since January 2021, the Federal Executive Branch of government has sought to inhibit and disincentivize the domestic production and refining of fossil fuels.”
During a recent Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs hearing, Mandy Gunasekara reported that the administration took over 125 actions suppressing domestic energy supply. She stated that such actions have exacerbated inflation, impacting low-income Americans the hardest.
Allegations of Data Suppression
There are accusations that the Biden Administration buried a draft study, completed in 2023, which contradicted its LNG export policy. The study reportedly indicated that increasing U.S. LNG exports could lower global emissions and contradict the administration’s decision to freeze LNG export project approvals starting January 2024.
As this investigation unfolds, it will be crucial to observe whether policies are adjusted to prioritize transparency and public welfare over political ambition. The challenge will be balancing the need for energy innovation with economic stability, ensuring decisions bolster both domestic energy security and the consumer’s best interest.
Sources:
- Comer, Burlison Launch Investigation Into the Detrimental Energy Policies Imposed by the Biden Administration – United States House Committee on Oversight and Accountability
- Wrap-Up: President Biden’s Unprecedented Assault on American Energy Increased Costs on American Consumers and Businesses – United States House Committee on Oversight and Accountability
- EXCLUSIVE: Biden Admin ‘Intentionally Buried’ Inconvenient Study To Justify Major Energy Crackdown, Sources Say | The Daily Caller
