As energy prices remain high heading into the winter season, some GOP leaders are sending a message to Biden to “reverse course” and “unleash American energy.”
According to AAA, the average gas price in the Yellowhammer State is $3.422.
On Monday, U.S. Reps. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville), Gary Palmer (R-Hoover), Jerry Carl (R-Mobile), and Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) joined 126 other Republicans in a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to invest more in American energy.
“We write to express our deep concern with your ongoing war on American energy,” the letter said. “Unfortunately, since taking office, you have fulfilled your campaign promises to shut down American oil and gas production. As a result, America is no longer energy independent, and our nation is less secure. In order to reduce the dramatically higher energy costs your actions have placed on hard-working families, we strongly request you reverse course and work with us to unleash American energy. Specifically, we ask you to take immediate action by issuing a five-year leasing plan that includes regular annual lease sales in America’s offshore areas.”
The members of Congress highlighted how the current energy crisis in Europe should be a warning to the U.S. to explore more energy at home.
“Undermining oil and gas production has severe consequences,” they said. “For example, Europe is in a full-blown energy crisis, and we are seeing the same issues manifest in California with their governor telling people to turn thermostats above 78 degrees, avoid using appliances, and limit charging electric vehicles when they get home from work, all while he mandated a ban on fossil-fuel cars. Europe and California should both serve as a cautionary tale against the devastating anti-fossil fuel policies your administration is currently pursuing. To be clear, already sky-high energy prices will likely worsen unless you immediately reverse course and drastically increase exploration, leasing, and production of oil and natural gas here at home. And keep in mind your extremist policies are hurting low and middle-income families the hardest.”
They also reiterated the need for the Biden administration to release a new five-year leasing plan as soon as possible.
“We urge you to reverse course on these disastrous energy policies and announce a five year leasing plan that actually addresses the energy crisis you created,” they said. “A predictable leasing schedule will not only help reduce energy costs for everyday Americans, but it will drive more investment into the energy sector and guarantee a steady flow of American energy into the future.”
The GOP members emphasized that the current energy prices are a direct result of bad policies by Biden.
“The American people have suffered enough because of your destructive energy policies,” they wrote. “We must do everything we can to avoid a future like the one we are seeing in Europe by increasing our investments in American energy, where we have the highest standards in the world. It is time to unleash our nations’ vast energy resources and give the American people the relief that is desperately needed.”
This is nothing more than a ploy to artificially lower gas prices ahead of the midterm elections. This callous move will not bring down the price of oil and mortgages our energy security for political purposes. President Biden and his advisors should be ashamed. https://t.co/tKQ76gH2yV
— Gary Palmer (@USRepGaryPalmer) October 19, 2022
Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee
