NEWS RELEASE

Energy Workforce CEO's Statement on President's Gas Tax Holiday
 

HOUSTON  — Today, Energy Workforce & Technology Council CEO Leslie Beyer released the following statement on President Biden’s call for a gas tax holiday, and his continued call for increased refinery production.

“It’s unfortunate to see the Biden Administration try every option except the correct one to lower energy prices. The proposal of a gas tax holiday does nothing to lower energy costs in the long-term, and could potentially exacerbate inflation by increasing demand without increasing supply," said Energy Workforce & Technology Council CEO Leslie Beyer.

"Providing roughly 18 cents in potential savings per gallon, that is only 1/27^th of the current cost. Any savings in the short-term would be negated very quickly by increased demand with no increase in supply. The Administration needs to stop looking for short-term band-aids that lead to higher prices in the long run and take the steps necessary to truly provide Americans with increased supply and energy security. The obvious solution is to produce more energy here at home and invest in domestic energy infrastructure.”   

“The President has also called for increased refining, even as U.S. domestic refiners are running at or near capacity to meet demand while oil production in the U.S. continues to rise. The industry is doing its job to increase production and refining as capacity allows, simultaneously working against decades of underinvestment and reduced access to capital markets.”

“The Biden Administration must take immediate action to embrace the security and reliability of domestic energy and encourage production and investment in the U.S. oil and natural gas industry. The Administration must open more federal lands and waters for production, invest in energy infrastructure, encourage Wall Street investment in oil and gas, streamline the permitting processes and expedite approvals, and invest in the energy workforce of today and the future. These actions will create good paying jobs, provide the energy resources necessary to power North America and our European allies, while bringing down energy prices.”

“It’s time to drop the politics in energy policy, consider the facts, and make the choices necessary to bring true energy security to America and our allies. This can only be done in coordination with the industry that powers modern life and develops the emissions-reducing technologies that will lead us to a lower carbon future.” 

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