White House Responds to More US Oil Drilling: ‘We Don’t Need to Do That’

The Epoch Times Header

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Thursday rejected calls from oil companies and Republicans to increase oil drilling on U.S. lands amid record-high gas prices.

Jean-Pierre was asked about why the Biden administration is pressuring oil companies to increase productivity at refineries rather than carrying out new drilling projects. Right after he took office in January 2021, President Joe Biden signed a flurry of executive orders including suspending new drilling leases on federal lands, ending the Keystone XL pipeline project, and killing federal fossil fuel subsidies.

Oil companies, she told reporters, have cut refinery capacity during the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic and haven’t restored to those levels. Democrats and Biden say that the COVID-19-related slowdown and the Russia-Ukraine war is causing the spike in prices.

When asked specifically by a Fox News reporter about why the federal government won’t expand drilling in the United States, she said that “we don’t need to do that.”

“What we need [oil companies] to do is, with the oil that’s out there, we need them to refine that oil so that the capacity can go up and that prices would go down,” she argued.

Earlier this week, Biden wrote a letter to oil companies and threatened to use executive action if they don’t increase capacity at their refineries. For several weeks, as regular gas prices have hit $5 per gallon on average, Biden has increasingly blamed energy companies for the hike.

“Your companies and others have an opportunity to take immediate actions to increase the supply of gasoline, diesel, and other refined product you are producing,” he alleged. “My administration is prepared to use all reasonable and appropriate Federal Government tools and emergency authorities to increase refinery capacity and output in the near term, and to ensure that every region of this country is appropriately supplied.”

In response, ExxonMobil released a statement suggesting the federal government’s policies are, in part, to blame.

By Jack Phillips

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

The Looming Threat To Our Homeland

After success of “Operation Midnight Hammer,” where U.S. military bombed Iranian nuclear facilities, the threat to America has never been greater.

Groundhog Day came late this year to the Land of Smiles.

it’s the same rigmarole, on whatever pretext, the army commandeers the Thai state with vague promises to restore democracy at some unspecified future date.

Resource number one

Russia has an unsustainable birthrate worsened by mortality rate of Russian males through war and alcoholism. One solution, steal young children from other countries. 

Expansionist CCP Runs Amok in Pacific After U.S. Relocates Naval Assets to Mid-East

Caveat established, China’s been going bananas on the high seas as the eyes of the world, and U.S. military assets, hone in on Iran.

The Anti-Trump Protests – Why Are They So Important?

The anti-Trump stance is not a political position, but a desperate gesture, a mental diagnosis of those who refuse to accept the reality of the World today.

Beijing Announces Controls on 2 Fentanyl Precursors Following Trade Deal

The Chinese communist regime announced new controls for two fentanyl precursors following a trade agreement between China and the US..

21.8 Million US Seniors Paying for Expenses With Only Social Security Income: Survey

An estimated 21.8 million senior citizens in America make ends meet solely using their social security funds, The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) said.

Oil Prices Drop by 7 Percent as Market’s Iran Fear Factor Fades

Crude oil prices plummeted by more than 7% as investors were optimistic that Iran’s limited retaliation could lead to a de-escalation in the Middle East.

New York Launches First New Nuclear Energy Project in US in 15 Years

Hochul directed NY’s power authority to begin evaluation of techs, business models, and locations to develop state’s first nuclear power plant in 50 years.

No Changes Planned for FDA’s Vaccine Advisory Committee ‘At This Time’: Spokesperson

There are no plans to remove any members of the panel that advises the FDA on vaccines, a spokesperson said on June 20.

Trump Says Trade Deals Expected With India and Pakistan

President Trump expects US will sign trade deals with India and Pakistan, signaling growing momentum in push to reshape global trade through tariff diplomacy.

Trump Says US Intelligence Community’s Assessment of Iran’s Nuclear Program ‘Was Wrong’

President Trump said his director of national intelligence’s assessment in March that Iran had yet to decide on building a nuclear weapon was wrong.

NIH Ends Gain-of-Function Research, Implementing Trump’s Executive Order

The NIH announced the end of gain-of-function research. The institute’s update said the move is in compliance with President Trump’s EO on the topic. 
spot_img

Related Articles