March 31st, 2023

• American natural gas is the world’s cleanest, most affordable, and most reliable energy. America’s energy independence and national security depends on it.
• Oregon’s first natural gas ban now going before Eugene voters.
• America’s avoidable energy crisis.
• Sen. Steve Daines’ op-ed: Canary in a coal mine.
• New York poised to ban gas stoves in new buildings.
• Judge orders oil and gas leases resumed in North Dakota.
• Why Ford can afford to lose billions on EVs.

On March 14th, House Republicans, led by Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) introduced the GOP energy package, arguing it would reverse President Biden’s “war on American energy,” shore up energy and mineral supply chains, reform the permitting process, and reduce consumer energy prices which are driving inflation.

The Lower Energy Costs Act passed Thursday 225-204 with bipartisan support including four Democrats. Now we urge the Senate to pass this common sense bill and send it to President Biden’s desk.

That appears unlikely, however, as that body is likely to reject it and follow White House claims that more American oil and gas production “would take us backward.” Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has already described the bill as “dead on arrival” due to its friendlier approach toward the oil and gas industry.

So, importing dirtier oil and gas from foreign nations is their preferred strategy? Depending on our adversaries for fossil fuels and renewable energy is somehow moving us forward?

Biden, Schumer and the Democrats opposing this bill, with their action, are directly telling nearly 100 million voters who list energy affordability as critical to their livelihood and wellbeing, ‘YOUR AND YOUR FAMILIES’ LIVES DO NOT MATTER’. China, without an EPA to enforce environmental standards, has over 1,100 operating coal power plants and permitted two new coal plants per week in 2022. We urge Biden, Schumer, and the Democrats to read this article and understand that China’s emissions drift to the United States’ West Coast in 1 to 4 weeks.

This bill could bring immediate relief to those people. The truth is that Biden’s war on the natural gas and oil industry not only weakens our energy independence, it also hurts millions of our fellow citizens, including the most vulnerable:

• 63% who live paycheck to paycheck.
• 56% who don’t have $1,000 in savings for emergencies.
• 64% of households who have an income less than $50,000.

Scalise’s measure includes reforms to unburden energy producers and cut costs for consumers. It would repeal the Energy Department’s power to block cross-border purchases and sales of natural gas, letting producers import and export without months of pre-approval.

This could be a potential boon to America’s energy producers.

The bill would direct the energy secretary to strengthen U.S. critical minerals sourcing and to increase domestic production, refining, and processing of these materials — processes often outsourced to foreign countries like China. The bill also repeals major programs in the so-called Inflation Reduction Act such as the $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and the burdensome methane tax.

Bottom Line: The “Lower Energy Costs Act” provides a common sense path forward to boost domestic oil and gas production now, while securing renewable supply chains for the future. Labeling it as a non-starter shows how committed Biden and Democrats are to their green-at-any-cost ideology.

This comes as no surprise, but President Biden this week vowed to tank the GOP’s efforts to boost domestic energy production.

According to the memo, the Biden administration “strongly opposes” the bill — titled the Lower Energy Costs Act — because it would work to counteract the administration’s own agenda promoting green energy sources over fossil fuel alternatives.

It claimed that the GOP legislation proposes to replace pro-consumer policies with a “thinly veiled license to pollute,” echoing criticism from top House Democrats.

That’s ironic, considering the bill would — among other things — open up domestic mining to support the president’s renewable energy goals. We wonder if they even bothered to read the details, or just summarily dismissed it purely on partisan grounds.

This is nothing more than lies spread by those trying to advance its green-at-any-cost agenda. It reminds us of this quote from the late writer H.L. Mencken: “The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.”

Meanwhile, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has scored a win in his bid to curb oil companies’ profits. Newsom struck a deal Monday with legislative leaders on a proposal to limit how much profit oil companies can make in the state and to impose more regulations.

Under his latest plan:

• The state would limit profits and have a watchdog to monitor prices.
• Newsom has accused oil companies of price gouging at the pump.
• Less production will mean prices will skyrocket even further, with fuel currently at $4.85 per gallon, the highest in the nation.

It’s also worth noting that California’s headlong rush to renewables has resulted in soaring electricity prices. The state’s CO2 emissions aren’t falling, either.

Meanwhile, an energy agency chief warns the country’s transition to renewables is way off track, issues warning on stranded assets.

It’s pathetic to see how some are using the health scare tactics in their quest to shut down American natural gas and oil and coal production. Instead, they want to push America even further into the Chinese supply-chain dependency.

Bottom Line: President Biden, from Day One, has opposed the American energy industry. He has a willing accomplice in Gov. Newsom and together — if left unchecked —  they will continue to rob individuals and small businesses of The American Dream.

Summer is right around the corner and the temperatures aren’t the only thing on the rise. The national average for a gallon of gas rose 6 cents over the past week, from $3.44 to $3.50. For the first time in months, there is no longer a single state with average gas prices less than $3. Driven by high demand and oil prices over $70 a barrel, you can expect gas prices to continue to increase over the coming weeks. To put it in perspective the current average is 14 cents higher than a month ago, but 73 cents less than it was one year ago.

Nothing on the calendar for next week as Congress is in recess!

“We commend Gov. Lombardo on his inclusive, practical and balanced approach to building pathways that support the State’s energy, economic and climate goals — we believe his recent executive order on energy sends a strong message reaffirming that natural gas is an essential part of delivering a truly resilient and secure energy future for all Nevadans” 

— Southwest Gas Spox Amy Washburn on NV Gov. Joe Lombardo’s recent executive order.