White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki insists that the increase in gas prices makes a “stronger case” investing in clean energy alternatives.
On Friday, Psaki was asked what her response is to Republican critics who allege the Biden administration’s policies have fueled the surge in gas prices.
“Our view is that the rise in gas prices over the long term makes an even stronger case for doubling down our investment and our focus on clean energy options, so that we are not relying on the fluctuations and OPEC and their willingness to put more supply and meet the demand in the market. That’s our view,” she responded.
She also raised concern that price gouging is leading to higher prices and said the administration has asked the Federal Trade Commission to look into the matter.
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Psaki on skyrocketing gas prices: "Our view is that the rise in gas prices over the long term makes an even stronger case for doubling down our investment and our focus on clean energy options." pic.twitter.com/mjymFF8DX8
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) November 12, 2021
According to AAA, the average price for a gallon of gas is $3.41 nationally, up from $2.12 a year ago.
During an event in Baltimore, Maryland, on Thursday, Biden said, “We got nearly 20% more goods coming into the country than we did before the pandemic struck. COVID-19 has changed the way we spend our time and our money.”
Finally, Biden said, “Did you ever think you’d be paying this much for a gallon of gas? In some parts of California, they’re paying $4.50 a gallon. That’s why it’s so important we do everything in our power to stabilize the supply chain.”
Patrick De Haa, the head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, told The Dispatch, “If COVID wouldn’t have happened, we would not be at $3.42 a gallon today.”
“For the simple reason that oil companies would not have had to let go workers and shut down oil production,” he added.
During an interview with Bloomberg on Friday, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm was asked about gas prices and what the plan is to “increase oil production in America.”
Granholm laughed, then said, “That is hilarious. Would that I had the magic wand on this.”
“As you know, of course, oil is a global market. It is controlled by a cartel. That cartel is called OPEC. And they made a decision yesterday that they were not going to increase beyond what they were already planning,” she added.
Granholm also said, “The Biden plan is to diversify and to make sure that we move in a direction of clean energy where we’re not reliant upon cartels, and we’re not reliant upon geopolitical adversaries…If $80-plus a barrel doesn’t incentivize oil companies to get off the sidelines, I’m not sure what will.”
In terms of finding measures to bring the price of oil down, De Haa told The Dispatch, “Everyone’s thinking [Biden] has this big lever in the White House, high and low oil prices, and he just switches it from one to another.”
“But it’s much more complex than that. He doesn’t have a lot of really good cards right now to play,” he added.