On 5/19/2022, during a Senate hearing, Sec. Granholm was questioned by Sen. Josh Hawley on what Biden Admin is doing to lower energy prices across America and whether she believes policies put forth by Biden are to blame for the higher costs. Citing the cost of gasoline in his home state of Missouri, as well as projections for even higher gasoline prices during the summer months, Hawley asked Granholm whether she believed the current energy crisis Americans are facing is “acceptable.” “No it is not,” she said. “And you can thank the activity of Vladimir Putin for invading Ukraine and pulling essentially”
“Oh nonsense,” Hawley interjected. “With all due respect, madam secretary, that’s utter nonsense. In January 2021, the average gas price in my state was $2.07. Eight months later, eight months later, long before Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine, that price was up over 30% and it’s been going up consistently since. What are you doing to reverse this administration’s policies that are drawing down our own supply of energy in this country that are throttling oil and gas production in the United States?”
“With respect, sir, it is not administration policies that have effected supply and demand,” she responded. Hawley followed up again. “Here’s what your president did when he first came to office,” Hawley said to Granholm. “He immediately reentered the Paris Climate Accord, he canceled the Keystone pipeline, he halted leasing programs in ANWR, he issued a 60-day halt on all new oil and gas leases on federal lands and waters — that’s nationwide and accounts for 25% of U.S. oil production — he directed federal agencies to eliminate all supports for fossil fuels, he imposed new regulations on oil and gas and methane emissions. Those were all just in the first few days. Are you telling me that’s had no effect on our energy supply?”
Granholm then began discussing a survey that, according to her, found “94% of the oil and gas executives” believe “administration policies had nothing to do with the increase in price of oil.” “I’m not interested in opinions of those people, I’m interested in facts,” Hawley responded.
“Are you telling me that these policies had no effect? Is that your testimony,” Hawley asked. “Are you telling me under oath that these policies had no effect?” “I’m telling you that 94% of the oil and gas industry executives said they had no effect, so, no they did not,” Granholm said.
“I have to say, madam secretary, with all due respect your answers are insulting,” Hawley said. “You said two months ago your department was on war footing. What are you doing to bring down the price of gasoline which has been consistently going up since you took office?”
Granholm said: “Oil is traded on the global market. We are paying extremely high prices today just as they are in Japan, just as they are in Germany, just as they are in South Africa because it is –” “What are you doing to get it down?” Hawley asked, interjecting again.
“We are calling for an increase in supply,” Granholm said. “We are releasing a million barrels power day from the strategic petroleum reserve to try to balance out the supply and demand.” “Who are you calling?” Hawley said over Granholm. Granholm said the Energy Department is calling on “domestic oil and gas manufacturers” and “international oil and gas manufacturers” to increase supply but , made no specific mention of what that process looks like.
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Hawley: utter nonsense, your answers are insulting, are you telling me that these energy policies had no effect?