So much for energy independence. With gas prices soaring nationwide, the Biden administration is now asking OPEC to boost oil production. The move comes as the administration has stunted domestic production by killing the Keystone oil pipeline and halting new oil and gas leases on federal lands. "These decisions by the administration, frankly, are confusing and irresponsible," says David Holt, president of the Consumer Energy Alliance.
Holt tells KTRH that outsourcing our oil production will only increase environmental emissions and raise costs. "These actions seem to contradict the stated goals of this administration's environmental standards," he says. "And they certainly hurt the pocketbooks of every man, woman, child and small business in the country, as you see gasoline prices continue to increase."
"It also makes the United States look pretty weak," Holt continues. "Saying that we're shutting down energy production in our country, but OPEC we really need you to do more...that just doesn't make any sense."
Texas leaders pounced on Biden's OPEC overture. Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted the White House "should allow American workers--not OPEC--to produce the oil that can reduce the price of gasoline."
Sen. John Cornyn was even more blunt, saying, "Begging the Saudis to increase production while the White House ties one hand behind the backs of American energy companies is pathetic and embarrassing.”
Holt agrees that the best place to increase production is right here in America. "If the Biden administration is serious about getting the economy going again and creating jobs---all the things they say they want to do---oil and natural gas, and energy overall, is one of the greatest ways to do that," he says.