WASHINGTON – Democrats and climate activists are generally supported President Joe Biden’s decision release a record 50 million barrels of oil from the US strategic reserve force, even if the move seems to contradict his long-term vision of countering climate change.
The US action, announced Tuesday in coordination with countries such as India, the UK and China, is for the purpose global energy market and help lower Gasoline prices have increased over a dollar per gallon since January. But it could also undermine Biden’s climate goals, including 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to 2030.
However, some of the top climate hawks said they were not interested in the move because they see it as a short-term solution to a particular problem. Senator Ed Markey, D-Mass., Who Has Focused Against climate changeBiden said “effective action has been taken to protect Americans from the oil price crash” even as the administration continues to push for renewable energy, which it hopes will eventually mean less dependence. into fossil fuels.
“Here’s the reserve – protecting our economy against disruption,” Markey tweeted. “Rise for profit cannot be without the answer, especially when Big Oil generates billions of dollars and causes the climate crisis through exports.”
NS Strategic oil reserves is an emergency stockpile to maintain access to oil in the event of natural disasters, national security issues, and other events. Maintained by the Department of Energy, the reserves are stored in caves created in salt domes along the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coasts. There are about 605 million barrels of oil in reserve.
Markey and other Democrats have urged Biden to release oil from the stockpile to lower prices for consumers. There have also been calls for the president to be reinstated The crude oil export ban was lifted in 2015. Biden made no move to reinstate the export ban, which was repealed by Republicans in an effort to assert US dominance in energy and boost domestic production.
By law, Biden has the authority to declare a state of emergency and limit or stop oil exports for up to a year but is not expected to do so.
Kelly Sheehan, senior director of energy campaigns for the Sierra Club, hailed Biden’s action as a way to ease Americans’ energy burdens. But she said the current spike in oil prices is a reminder that “the only way to really achieve energy security is to quickly transition away from risky fossil fuels like oil and gas and make it easier for more people to access clean energy.”
Lorne Stockman, research director for Oil Change International, an environmental group focused on creating a “fossil-free future,” said Biden should have acted sooner, if only to head off the tide. Republican critics blamed him for high gas prices.
“Presidents are always blamed gas price, whether they have anything to do with it or not,” Stockman said, calling the measure a small step toward bringing near-term relief to American consumers.
Speaking at the White House on Tuesday, Biden said the gas price hike made the move necessary and that it would not distract from his larger ambitions toward energy independence.
“My effort to fight climate change is not to raise gas prices,” Biden said. “What it’s doing is increasing build availability Electric Car like the one I drove… in a GM plant in Detroit last week.”
Americans who buy electric cars will save up to $1,000 in fuel costs this year, Biden said, “and we’ll put those savings within the reach of more Americans and create jobs.” get jobs by installing solar panels, the battery and electric heat pump. We can make our economy and consumers less vulnerable to price spikes when we do. “
Mr. Biden said the White House was looking at the possibility of price manipulation as oil companies squeeze customers while making money from lower costs. And Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said US companies are keeping output below pre-pandemic levels to boost profits.
NS pandemic caused by corona virus vibrant energy market. As the shutdown began in April 2020, demand fell and oil futures prices turned negative. Energy traders don’t want to get stuck with crude oil they can’t stock. But as the economy recovered, prices surged to a seven-year high in October.
Senator John Barrasso, R-Wyo., called Biden’s use of strategic reserves, along with calls for OPEC and Russia to increase production, “desperate efforts to address the disaster caused by Biden. ” and is no substitute for increased US energy production.
Lukas Ross, manager of climate justice and energy at Friends of the Earth, another environmental group, said the soaring gas prices show “our continued dependence on a volatile compound.” Cooking the climate is exactly why we need it,” Biden said. social and environmental bill approval as quickly as possible.
NS 2 trillion dollar bill, which has already been approved in the House and is pending in the Senate, includes about $550 billion for climate change efforts, including proposals to promote wind and solar energy and support. tram. Republicans unanimously opposed the measure.
Biden has said that the US needs to transition away from dependence on oil, and “now is the time to keep that promise urgently.” skirunning Kassie Siegel, director of the climate law institute at the Center for Biodiversity, another environmental group, said the transition to electric cars and renewable energy grids.
“Price volatility will always be a part of Big Oil’s books,” she added. “Let’s break their grip on our economy once and for all.”
