Old North News

U.S. Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, is frustrated with Democrats for voting against policies that would lower energy costs for families while pushing more spending that heightens inflation; a recent committee press release said.

Electricity costs have risen dramatically in the last year due to the end of COVID-19 shutdowns, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and inflation as a result of government spending.

Surging electricity prices have led to a late utility bill crisis, a recent Bloomberg report said. One in six Americans is struggling to pay their energy bills on time. American households saw a 15.2% increase in July electricity prices this year—the largest increase in 13 years—compared to a 4% increase in 2021. Americans currently owe approximately $16 billion in late energy bills, twice as much as before the pandemic.

Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) proposed an energy bill that would require the Biden administration to renew oil and gas production on American land and begin a renewable energy advancement program.

“All in one year, President Biden killed the Keystone XL pipeline, banned new oil and gas leases on federal lands, begged OPEC and Russia to produce more abroad, and he also gave the green light to Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline,” Daines said in a March press release from his office. “These actions diminished American energy security, hurt our allies and empowered our adversaries. My bill will help get the United States back on track.”

The bill was blocked by Democrats.

“The Democrats’ war on American energy continued today,” Barrasso said in the committee release. “Families are paying the price. While jamming through their reckless tax and spending spree, Democrats voted against common sense Republican proposals. These proposals would have unleashed American energy and lowered costs for families. American families need relief from Democrat policies that attack American energy, send utility bills soaring, and drive up prices at the pump.”

The Biden administration has limited American fossil fuel production and instead relies on green energy production, a Wall Street Journal report said. The administration canceled the Keystone XL Pipeline and restricted oil and gas leases on American land, causing the price of energy and gas to go up as demand went up following the pandemic. Biden was forced to ask foreign nations for oil and gas as energy prices continued to rise at home. The temporary plateau of prices at the pump came from drivers not filling up all the way, and it will not stay stagnant. Additionally, the president offers no significant plan to lower energy costs long-term.

Cheri Beasley, a Democratic candidate running for the U.S. Senate seat for North Carolina, has also not proposed a solution to combat high energy costs and prices at the pump. She supports Democrats’ policies of green energy and limiting domestic production, which does nothing for American families’ high utility bills.

A poll found that 87.7% of North Carolinians are concerned about high energy costs when considering the midterm elections, a recent report from johnlocke.org said.

The average price of electricity in North Carolina was 9.81 c/kwh as of June 2022, compared to 9.37 c/kwh last year; recent data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration said. The national average has increased 7.4% compared to 2021.