March 10, I introduced the American Energy Independence Resolution (Senate Resolution 26) in the Senate.
The resolution urges the president of the United States and the Congress to implement policies and enact legislation to ensure that our nation again becomes energy independent.
The United States has lost its energy independence to the detriment of its citizens, especially hurting the buying power of middle-class families and low-income earners.
Our current policies regarding oil, natural gas and coal exploration and production have forced our nation to purchase crude oil from other nations, including communist Russia.
While the United States has cut off crude oil purchases from Russia, our nation is still pursuing purchases from nations that are unfriendly towards us.
The United States has large reserves of oil, natural gas and coal for use in energy production, and this abundance has provided security that has historically led to reliable and affordable energy for American consumers and our allies.
The resolution mentioned the world is looking to the United States for energy leadership and stability, as current geopolitical events have created economic disruptions, while inflation already affects households in the United States, across Europe and the world.
The United States has the ability and capacity to once again be a net exporter of energy resources, supplying our allies in Europe with energy.
Instead, our leaders have asked Iran and Venezuela for oil, helping to fund totalitarian regimes that are anything but friendly to the United States.
The resolution was defeated. Four of the 14 Democrats voted no, nine went “not voting,” and one was marked absent.
Republican Sens. Gerald Hocker of Ocean View, Brian Pettyjohn of Georgetown, Dave Lawson of Marydel, Colin Bonini of Dover and Dave Wilson of Lincoln were co-sponsors of the bill and voted yes.
The main excuse for not favoring the resolution was that it did not contain any reference to “green-energy” activities, such as wind turbines and solar panels.
When it was asked how many senators would be driving home in an electric vehicle, Sen. Kyle Evans Gay, D-Talleyville, was the only one to raise her hand.
Roughly 15% of the electricity generated in the U.S. comes from renewable sources, such as wind, solar, geothermal, hydropower and biomass. We are still dependent on oil, gas and coal to charge electric vehicles.
By the way, the four Democratic senators that had the courage of their convictions to vote no were Stephanie Hansen of Middletown, Trey Paradee of Dover, Dave Sokola of Newark and Laura Sturgeon of Woodbrook.
If construction had been completed, the domestic Keystone XL pipeline could have had the capacity to supply 830,000 barrels per day of crude oil to American families and businesses, or about 4.2% of our daily consumption needs. President Joe Biden stopped progress on the pipeline on his first full day in office.
The amount of crude oil the United States was purchasing from Russia was around 4%. The Keystone XL pipeline could have kept the United States from making a deal with Russia.
The Biden administration continues to increase costs and delay efforts to develop oil and natural gas leasing on federal lands and waters, despite the fact that the leasing program provides billions of dollars in revenue to federal, state and local governments and provides countless good-paying job opportunities.
In November 2021, President Biden announced the release of 50 million barrels of oil from the strategic reserve. This would have the effect of reducing the cost of gasoline at the pumps a few pennies for a few days.
The strategic reserve was established for use following natural or man-made disasters, not to score political points.
Sen. Bryant Richardson
R-Seaford
