House Oversight Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) has called for an investigation into Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm’s alleged ‘misuse’ of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). Comer sent a letter to Granholm inviting her to testify before the Committee on Oversight and Accountability regarding various issues, including the alleged misuse of the SPR, the Department of Energy’s halt on liquefied natural gas (LNG) transports, Granholm’s taxpayer-funded electric vehicle road trip last summer, and increased spending.
Comer expressed frustration in his letter, stating that the DOE has failed to provide Granholm’s availability to testify before the Oversight Committee despite multiple attempts to schedule a hearing over the past two months. He criticized the Department for only offering the Deputy Secretary, David Turk, to testify instead of Granholm herself. Comer called this “unacceptable” and emphasized the importance of Granholm’s direct involvement as the leader of the Department.
The investigation into Granholm’s alleged misuse of the SPR comes at a time when the reserves are at their lowest level in decades. The SPR was established in response to the 1973-1974 oil embargo and has the capacity to store hundreds of millions of barrels of crude oil. However, President Joe Biden has aggressively drawn down on the reserves since taking office, releasing 291 million barrels over two and a half years. This has brought the nation’s reserves to 347 million barrels, the lowest level since 1983. The Energy Department has refilled some of the reserves, but they currently sit at 362 million barrels, well below their capacity of 713 million barrels.
Some analysts are concerned that low stockpiles could leave the nation vulnerable to oil price shocks and dependent on global exporters during supply emergencies. John Shages, former head of the SPR at the Energy Department, warned that it could take decades to refill the reserves at the current pace. This raises concerns about the nation’s energy security and its ability to respond to natural disasters or conflicts.
In addition to the investigation into the SPR, the Oversight Committee has launched an investigation into the DOE’s pause on LNG exports. The Biden administration announced in January that it would be blocking new LNG export licenses between U.S. firms and non-Free Trade Agreement countries. President Biden cited concerns about the climate crisis and the need to reevaluate the impacts of LNG exports on energy costs, energy security, and the environment. House Republicans have called on the DOE to provide all documents and communications with the White House regarding the LNG export pause.
Texas and 15 other states have also filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration over the LNG export pause, arguing that it is unlawful and raises national security concerns. They believe that allied nations should be able to rely on the United States for a reliable and long-term fuel supply, especially during times of ongoing conflicts and rising tensions.
The investigations into Granholm’s alleged misuse of the SPR and the DOE’s pause on LNG exports highlight concerns about energy security and the Biden administration’s approach to energy policy. The outcomes of these investigations will likely have significant implications for the nation’s energy strategy and its ability to respond to future challenges.
. This article examines the investigation and its implications for energy security and the Biden administration's energy policy approach.){kind=link}