Wichita Standard

Rep. Ron Estes of Kansas has voiced concerns about President Biden's energy policies, claiming they have negatively impacted both American consumers and national security. In an op-ed published in RealClearEnergy, Estes examines the history of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) and criticizes what he describes as Biden's "anti-energy independence agenda."

Estes recalls past events such as the Yom Kippur War and recent Middle Eastern conflicts to emphasize the importance of energy security. He argues that President Biden's decisions, including ending the Keystone XL Pipeline and proposing tax increases on oil companies, have led to higher gas prices. Estes states, "Biden’s policies had already pushed the national weekly average to $3.53" before attributing further price increases to external factors like Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The Congressman accuses Biden of using the SPR for political purposes during election periods rather than maintaining it as a national security asset. He asserts that under Biden, the reserve is at its lowest level since 1984, compromising U.S. preparedness against global crises.

Estes criticizes a fixed-rate pricing system implemented by the White House for replenishing the SPR, suggesting it has deterred refilling efforts due to market discrepancies. He proposes legislation to address this issue through index-based pricing for crude oil purchases.

He concludes by urging immediate action from the administration to restore the SPR to its previous levels for enhanced national security.