Oil Industry Experts: Democrats Dangerous To US Energy Needs

The Democratic Party’s overt hostility toward fossil fuels is threatening U.S. energy dominance and security. That’s the word from leading industry experts, who caution the left’s climate change radicalism may bring dire consequences to the nation.

The American Petroleum Institute (API) held its annual State of the American Energy Conference in Washington, D.C. this week. President and CEO Mike Sommers issued an urgent call to both President Joe Biden and congressional Democrats.

Sommers warned, “Washington is on the cusp of spoiling the American energy advantage, undermining it with short-sighted policies and hostility toward U.S. oil and natural gas.”

Future generations will suffer, he declared, if Democrats continue to take steps to impede energy production.

There is widespread concern throughout the energy sector over the Biden administration’s mad rush toward the climate change agenda. The White House continues to throw its considerable weight behind eradicating fossil fuels.

And make no mistake, U.S. energy rebounded from the pandemic era and survived Biden’s repressive policies to stage a remarkable comeback. Sommers noted the nation now produces a record volume of oil, though this came “despite Biden policies.” 

One particular target of the Biden administration’s short-sighted policy is offshore oil and gas drilling. Last September, the White House released a plan to drastically scale back leasing for such activities.

Energy companies responded with the obvious concern that these new restrictions would raise gas prices at a time when they are already elevated. 

Biden’s Interior Department announced that only three sales for drilling were granted — all located in the Gulf of Mexico. That was the lowest level since 1980 and prompted a strong backlash from the industry.

National Ocean Industries Association President Erik Milito called it an “utter failure.” He warned such actions would lead to higher prices at the pump, a loss of Gulf Coast jobs and further dependence on oil imports at a time of international uncertainty. 

How low were the three sales historically? The Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management reported that previous totals ranged between 11 and 41 sales.