Biden Admin. Denies Long List of Energy Policies Led to High Gas Prices

Energy Secretary's Testimony

During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on May 19, 2022, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm blamed Vladimir Putin for the current U.S. energy crisis.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) challenged Granholm, saying:

With all due respect, madam secretary, that's utter nonsense. In January 2021, the average gas price in my state was $2.07. Eight months later, eight months later, long before Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine, that price was up over 30% and it's been going up consistently since. What are you doing to reverse this administration's policies that are drawing down our own supply of energy in this country that are throttling oil and gas production in the United States?

Granholm replied:

With respect, sir, it is not administration policies that have affected supply and demand.

To which, Hawley challenged:

Here's what your president did when he first came to office. He immediately reentered the Paris Climate Accord, he canceled the Keystone pipeline, he halted leasing programs in ANWR, he issued a 60-day halt on all new oil and gas leases on federal lands and waters — that's nationwide and accounts for 25% of U.S. oil production — he directed federal agencies to eliminate all supports for fossil fuels, he imposed new regulations on oil and gas and methane emissions. Those were all just in the first few days. Are you telling me that's had no effect on our energy supply?

Granholm then began discussing a survey that, according to her, found "94% of the oil and gas executives" believe "administration policies had nothing to do with the increase in price of oil." Hawley responded: "I'm not interested in opinions of those people, I'm interested in facts."

Hawley then asked:

Are you telling me that these policies had no effect? Is that your testimony? Are you telling me under oath that these policies had no effect?

Granholm replied:

I'm telling you that 94% of the oil and gas industry executives said they had no effect, so, no they did not.