Commentary: The answer to high energy prices isn’t new taxes, but new supplies
A comparison to Jimmy Carter as a person may be a wonderful compliment. But as president of the United States? Not so much. Unfortunately for President Biden, a souring economy, Russian aggression and high gasoline prices are combining to make the parallels glaringly obvious.
The good news for Biden is that while Carter’s place in presidential history has largely been written, Biden still has an opportunity to shape his story. That’s why the current president would do well to avoid following Carter’s approach of levying punitive taxes on the energy industry.
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ConservAmerica in the News
ConservAmerica President Jeff Kupfer spoke to Fox News on Sunday about the current state of domestic oil production and the options available to policymakers to curb rising prices.
“There is a general recognition that we can't turn on a switch and change prices in the short term, but there are things we can be doing that will impact the long term. In addition to permitting reform and additional drilling, we need to make sure the infrastructure is in place to get the product out of the ground to consumers,” Kupfer said.
“We need transportation and export facilities to be built. We need to take a step back and look at the complete picture and be willing to focus on long-term benefits rather than the short-term political ‘wins,’ he added. “Only then can we lower gas prices.”
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The Hill: How US policies contribute to high energy prices
Fourteen years ago, as the head of a U.S. delegation at a time of sky-high energy prices, I met with a Middle Eastern oil minister in an effort to convince his nation to increase production. I have a distinct memory of him listening to my pitch, pausing for a few seconds and then looking me straight in the eye and saying, “I hear you, but what is your country doing to help the situation?” With U.S. energy prices on the rise, and with U.S. officials scrambling to cobble together gas supplies for Europe in case of a Russian attack on Ukraine, that question is just as relevant today.
Unfortunately, the answer is, not much. However you feel about natural gas (and oil), the reality is that it is a critical component of our energy system, and that it is here to stay for many years. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects that U.S. consumption of natural gas will remain roughly unchanged in 2022 and 2023.
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Opinion: Competition in electricity markets lowers bills — but most states don’t allow that
ConservAmerica President Jeff Kupfer published a commentary in MarketWatch on November 2 making the case that competition is the best way to achieve the energy future that customers want – one that fosters innovation, combats climate change, promotes reliability, and drives down prices.
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Republicans should seize the opportunity to invest in infrastructure smartly
Conservatives are understandably concerned about the rapid pace of the Biden administration’s spending of taxpayers’ dollars. But they should also recognize the opportunity to address America’s long-neglected infrastructure needs.
This is a moment where ambitious spending if done right, can generate favorable returns on our nation’s investments — but only if Republicans make their voices heard.
Republicans need to have a seat at the table to help shape the eventual package to ensure it's fiscally sound and focused on modernizing our national infrastructure and creating jobs.
One lens to view infrastructure funding through is disaster preparedness, which is why ConservAmerica recently joined the SmarterSafer Coalition and other advocacy organizations. Money spent now on resiliency to prepare for future extreme weather events makes sense in dollars and cents.
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Real Clear: As the President Calls for Investment in Infrastructure, Republican Lawmakers Engaged on Climate Have Never Been More Important
In Wednesday’s edition of Real Clear Energy, ConservAmerica’s Sarah Velasquez joins a number of other right-of-center organizations in calling out the work Republicans have done to advance clean energy and address the impacts of climate change. Velasquez and the other authors encourage President Biden to engage Republicans in his plan to invest in America’s infrastructure to make it a win-win for all America, both red and blue. And Republicans, for their part, should seize the opportunity to demonstrate continued leadership on climate change.
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Todd Johnston Op-Ed in Detroit News: Free market provides climate solutions
A genuinely free market is the surest way to encourage innovation. The rapid development of not one but two viable vaccines to the coronavirus is the latest example of the value of competition with which we are all familiar.
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Jeff Kupfer: Granholm should take a realistic approach at Energy Department
An ambitious vision and the ability to communicate it are important qualities for any Cabinet member. And President Biden’s nominee for secretary of energy, former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, certainly fits the bill.
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Eli Lehrer and Jeff Kupfer: Washington’s wildfire strategy must prioritize mitigation and resiliency
If nothing else, 2020 showed Washington state residents they can’t stop worrying about wildfires.
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