July 15, 2022 |
The American Petroleum Institute (API) said on a conference call with reporters Thursday that President Joe Biden rejected an invitation from oil and gas leaders to tour successful oil production operations across the United States. Instead, Biden is heading to Saudi Arabia to seek more oil from OPEC.
Mike Sommers, API president and CEO, said on the call. “If the administration is serious about increasing supply, they should be meeting with producers here at home instead of looking to governments overseas.”
Wyoming Senator John Barrasso echoed those comments. In statement Thursday, Barrasso said, “President Biden is going halfway around the world looking for a solution found right here at home. Unleashing American energy is the surest way to boost our economy and reduce energy prices.
Anne Bradbury, CEO of American Exploration and Production Council said President Biden has ignored the API’s request to tour American energy producing sites.
The API made the request in the form of a letter to the White House. Wyoming was a signatory on the invitation through its membership in the Western States Petroleum Association.
Worse than ignoring the petroleum industry, Biden and administration officials have attacked the industry—and even small gas station owners—as the cause of historically high gas prices this summer.
Leslie Beyer is the CEO of the Energy Workforce and Technology Council. Beyer said painting the industry as the villain not only misses the mark, it’s contributes to the problem by limiting the industry’s access to capital.
In addition to sending the invitation to the White House, the API submitted a 10-point plan to Congress on how oil and gas production can be increased and the cost of fuel for consumers could be decreased.
Meanwhile, Joe Biden is in the Mideast asking foreign countries to increase their oil production.
