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 In 1880, the U.S. produced 85% of the world’s crude oil. The
4th largest U.S. export was kerosene. Major oil finds in Oklahoma, Texas and
California tripled U.S. production by the turn of the century. During World War
I, America supplied oil to Britain, France and their allies. And during World
War II, Americans rationed gas and oil at home and provided over half of the
much-needed fuel for the allied war effort.
But when Franklin D. Roosevelt helped the Middle East double production of cheap
crude, it was the kiss of death for U.S. energy independence. As a result of
cheap imports, the U.S. cut back on oil production. And by 1970, the U.S. was
dependent on imported oil from politically unstable Eastern nations. Since the
1970s, the East has had a major influence on America's foreign and domestic
political and energy policies.
Throughout the 70s, U.S. dependence on foreign oil influenced
her politics and threatened her economic health and global influence. For six
decades, America has faced gas rationing, shortages of industrial petroleum and
heating oil. The U.S. has been coerced to invest in inferior, less efficient
energy resources to fuel the needs of its consumers, and to keep the wheels of
industry churning.
It was not until 2019 that the U S. regained its energy independence under
President Donald Trump. In 2019, after 62 years, our nation produced more energy
than we consumed. This was a result of Trump's support for the hydraulic
fracturing production of oil. By June 2020, the U.S. was exporting oil!
"We allowed OPEC to have too much control over America too long." – Donald Trump
According to the American Energy Alliance's (AEA) 2021 scorecard, America's
energy renaissance was due to Trump's commitment to use all energy resources to
make America energy independent. This included oil and gas, minerals and
renewable resources such as wind, geothermal and solar.
Trump worked with the Energy Department to roll back Obama's restrictions on
methane gas production. He made it easier to obtain Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
mining permits on federal land. He increased drilling permits under the National
Environmental Policy Act. Energy Secretary Brouillette, said, "Our goal is to
simply provide Americans with safer, cleaner, affordable energy."
In his 2017 budget bill, President Trump gained approval for clean, safe energy
development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. He also negotiated
re-drilling on federal lands in Kern County, CA, which had been shut down by
environmentalists in 2013 when they filed a lawsuit to halt all drilling.
The biggest step toward American energy independence was Trump's approval of the
Keystone XL pipeline. To cross over the U.S.-Canadian border it needed
presidential approval and Barack Obama had told Congress that, "This pipeline is
not in our best interests." But Trump disagreed.
"Keystone will not only help Americans, it will help defend world energy
freedom." – Donald Trump
Without Obama's onerous regulations, America achieved the largest decrease in
carbon dioxide emissions of any country since 2000 – by telling free markets to
self-police. This allowed President Trump to justify removing the U.S. from the
Paris Agreement, which was only benefiting China and third world nations at
America's expense. These nations could continue to pollute all they wished.
While America was enjoying energy independence for the first time in six
decades, then candidates Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were campaigning to ban
hydraulic fracturing. Both candidates had also vowed to block all drilling and
exploration on federal lands. Biden’s energy platform called for new, increased
“strict, aggressive methane pollution limits for new and existing oil and gas
operations.”
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Despite the pandemic proving that people prefer
driving their personal vehicles, Biden and Harris campaigned to
transform the entire U.S. transportation system into electric and
renewable fueled mass transit vehicles. Their plan was to eliminate
all petroleum-based infrastructure in a decade.
When Joe Biden took office, America was recovering from its worst
economic downturn since the Great Depression. With many of the
COVID-19 restrictions lifted and employment rising, it was only a
matter of days before the economy would pick up where it left off
before its international shutdown. "We learned a lot
of lessons from the pandemic and I know that we'll profit from
them." – Joe Biden
The American Energy Alliance had reported that the Keystone Pipeline
would reduce emissions by cutting down fuel used to transport oil.
But Biden ordered to cancel the Keystone Pipeline his first day in
office. This was a promise he made to the climate activists who paid
dearly to elect him.
Biden's misspent energy policies have haunted him daily as gas
prices have no place to go but up.
TC Energy Corp., who owns the Keystone Pipeline along with Alberta,
reported that at least 1,000 people lost their jobs immediately due
to Biden’s executive order. They estimate it will affect over 11,000
more industry jobs, and lost economic revenue will exceed $2 billion
by the end of the year.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show that unemployment started to
improve when Biden ended federal handouts. But seasonally adjusted
numbers only edged down to 4.6%. Recent Commerce Department figures
revealed all of America is now suffering from high inflation and
high fuel prices.
"We can end these high gas prices simply by dipping into our oil
reserves." – Sen. Chuck Schumner
By the midterms, Biden will learn that much of his $1.9 trillion
“American Rescue Plan” was used to pay for higher gas and home
heating prices caused by his energy policies. With gas averaging $1
more a gallon than last year, Biden is begging OPEC to increase
production and cut export prices on oil.
Last month, the Saudis showed Biden that they too can take down the
American economy any time they wish like Iran and Iraq did to Jimmy
Carter in 1978. As Biden frantically tries to save face with his war
on fossil fuel, the Mideast is turning a deaf ear praying that he'll
be reelected in four years. In 450 BC, Sophocles
wrote, "Smart men yield when they are wrong." Biden and the far left
still have a chance to end this energy crisis if they wish. But
chances are they will never attempt to do this out of fear of
reprisal from their global warming crusaders, whose plan was for
this to happen.
“The survival of the United States is at risk due to our dependence
on fossil fuels." – Al Gore
President Biden has shown, "fools rush in where wise men fear to
tread." Putting the entire nation's economic security in danger by
undoing energy policies that made the U.S. energy independent is an
illusionary fool's paradise. Only "fake science climate doomsayers"
call this successful policy. And dismantling energy policies that
reduced a nation's carbon footprint lower than any other in the
world will be Biden's "climategate."
"Wherever you get enough far left people in power, you can find a
similar willingness to force everyone into collectivist conformity
at all costs." – Thomas Sowell |
