National Motorists Association Blog

By Lauren Fix

Everything we use is made of fossil fuels–literally everything! We can’t ban fossil fuels anytime soon.

This week, President Biden approved the release of more fuel from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and claimed we are going to refill the oil reserves once the price drops. So if the price does not drop the reserves will not get filled.

Of the 265 million barrels being released, 15 million barrels of oil will go to other countries including China. Yes, China!

The goal in this release is meant to artificially reduce the price of gas for the US and other countries.

But instead the prices will rise, I’ll explain. Here are the facts.

The Biden Administration is discouraging oil production. They are trying to blame Russia, oil companies, and everyone else except their own energy policies. They are going to war with the oil industry and all forms of energy except wind and solar. This energy policy will make everything more expensive for you, the consumer.

The White House is eager to find ways to lower gas prices ahead of the midterm elections as it believes price at the pump most directly affects voters’ everyday lives and their perception of the economy. It does, but at what cost?

Here is the Administration’s plan. The U.S. is releasing 165 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in hopes that consumers will save a few dollars. The plan includes buying oil back at a lower price–that is if oil prices drop.

This sounds great, but we will all pay for this later as gas prices will spike right after the midterm elections, once the Reserve is drained. We need the Strategic Petroleum Reserve for actual emergencies.

Oil suppliers and speculators are watching, as this is a global market that we do not control and the US is signaling a massive buy at a certain price. The global market will know and manipulate the price to our disadvantage.

This is a giant, looming policy mistake.

The government intends to put the oil companies out of business, as President Biden and many members of his Administration have stated multiple times. But now they are asking oil companies to lower their oil prices and produce more. However, the government has reduced offshore leasing sales for drilling, there has been no interest in producing oil, just vilifying companies, blaming gas stations, and frustrating Americans for wanting to keep their gasoline-powered cars.

This creates a serious issue. Oil companies are not going to invest in producing oil if the President openly says he is going to destroy their companies. You wouldn’t do it and they won’t either.

I don’t think this Administration has any idea how the energy complex works, how energy companies operate, and how fuel moves not just around the United States, but around the globe. The price of home heating will soar this winter thanks to climate policies. Diesel fuel inventories for this time of year are the lowest they’ve been since 1982 and prices are up 50 percent leading to everyone paying more for electricity and natural gas utilities, too.

A better approach should use a combination of natural gas, crude oil, renewable fuels, and alternative energy because we need to have a base load of power and other energy sources to meet our needs.

We can’t eliminate fossil fuels. They are a part of every sector of our lives and will affect every single thing we do in this country. The clothing that you buy, all forms of plastic, the medication you take–everything is touched by petroleum products. Alternative fuels make economic sense if fossil fuels are part of the solution.

There is so much more to discuss on this, put your comments below and let’s start the conversation.

Lauren Fix, The Car Coach®, is a nationally recognized automotive expert, analyst, author, and television host.  A trusted car expert, Lauren provides an insider’s perspective on a wide range of automotive topics and aspects, energy, industry, consumer news, and safety issues.   

Lauren is the CEO of Automotive Aspects and the Editor-in-Chief of Car Coach Reports, a global automotive news outlet. She is an automotive contributor to national and local television news shows, including Fox News, Fox Business, CNN International, The Weather Channel, Inside Edition, Local Now News, Community Digital News, and more. Lauren also co-hosts a regular show on ABC.com with Paul Brian called “His Turn – Her Turn” and hosts regular radio segments on USA Radio – DayBreak. 

Lauren is honored to be inducted into the Women’s Transportation Hall of Fame and a Board Member of the Buffalo Motorcar Museum and Juror / President for the North American Car, Utility & Truck of the Year Awards.  

Check her out on Twitter and Instagram @LaurenFix.