A pair of influential Republicans in the energy sector, Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) and Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), denounced the Biden administration for “its political abuse and manipulation of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.”
The chair of the House Committee on Energy and the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources wrote a letter to Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm outlining their views on how they believe the Biden White House has “abused” the SPR for political gain.
“We are concerned about the mishandling of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) by the Biden administration,” they stated in their letter. “We designed the SPR as a strategic national asset to deploy during national emergencies, including natural catastrophes and wars.”
President Biden announced last week that he would release one million barrels of gasoline “to lower prices at the pump” in anticipation of the 4th of July. The Northeast Gasoline Supply Reserve release, according to the White House announcement, “builds on Biden’s historic draws from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.”
The Department of Energy “established the SPR primarily to carry out obligations of the United States under the international energy program and to reduce the impact of disruptions in petroleum product supplies.” The President, in accordance with the conditions outlined in the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), sells SPR oil competitively when deemed necessary.
The Republican leaders charged that Biden had released the gasoline barrels in order to lower gasoline prices.
They claimed that “during the Biden White House, the SPR has been misused for political purposes in an attempt to bring down record high gas prices, which are a result of the administration’s reckless push for ‘green’ energy policies and are fueling record high inflation.”
Just like they contend the administration did for the 2022 midterm elections, the two accused the administration of trying to influence voters ahead of the 2024 election by lowering gas prices. They are concerned because they believe the SPR’s withdrawal will have “implications for the United States’ energy and national security.”
The Washington Examiner contacted the DOE for comment.
In a letter, McMorris Rodgers and Barrasso pleaded with you “to put this country’s energy security first and quit misusing the SPR for political purposes.” It is your duty as the Secretary of Energy to react to actual interruptions in the energy supply. Unlike in 2022, we urge you to ensure the SPR remains free from political manipulation during this election year.”
Although they have been gradually increasing, gas prices have decreased from their record high of $5.02 per gallon in June 2022.
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