US energy secretary: ‘Critical’ not to rely on oil, gas from other countries
Jennifer Granholm tells FOX Business Biden has no plans to change energy policies, regulations
FOX Business' Edward Lawrence reports from the White House, where President Biden is tapping into the nation's oil reserve to better control high gas prices.
As President Biden readies a plan to release one million barrels of oil a day from the nation’s oil reserve, U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm stressed the importance of energy independence Thursday in a FOX Business interview.
"We know that it is critical for us to make sure that we are not reliant on fuels from other countries, for example, oil and gas," Granholm told Edward Lawrence.
The administration’s decision to pump from the national emergency supply for a 180-day period would put the Strategic Petroleum Reserve at its lowest levels since 1984.
Acknowledging it’s a short-term solution, Granholm claimed the best way to get oil prices down is to speed up the switch from fossil fuels.
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"That's one of the reasons why we would like to see a greater push in the U.S. toward electric vehicles and reduce the cost of those electric vehicles," Granholm said.
Biden has no plans to change the administration’s policies and regulations related to the industry, the energy secretary added.
Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
This marks the third time since November that Biden has tapped into the petroleum reserve. Other steps the White House has taken to lower gas prices include asking OPEC to increase production and requesting the Federal Trade Commission to open an investigation into alleged price-gouging.
Officials are now putting the blame on oil companies, calling executives to testify in front of the House Energy Committee next week.
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American Petroleum Institute Senior Vice President Frank Macchiarola detailed the difficult environment Biden has created for the industry on "Mornings with Maria" early Thursday, setting the tone for how oil execs are likely to respond.
American Petroleum Institute Senior Vice President Frank Macchiarola argues the Biden administration needs to end restrictions on U.S. oil production.
"If the administration really wants to be strategic here, they'll promote the production of oil and gas in the United States through development on federal lands and waters. They'll stop restricting access to pipeline infrastructure. They'll cancel these proposals to increase taxes on American producers," Macchiarola noted. "Those are the things that are going to provide relief for Americans at the pump."