In response to Biden’s threat to use emergency powers to increase refinery capacity, the CEO of Chevron sent Biden a letter asking for his administration to change their approach to the oil and gas industry, one that he’s both criticized and vilified.
Here’s part of his letter:
I want to be clear that Chevron shares your concerns over the higher prices that Americans are experiencing. And I assure you that Chevron is doing its part to help address these challenges by increasing capital expenditures to $18 billion in 2022, more than 50% higher than last year.
Notwithstanding these efforts, your Administration has largely sought to criticize, and at times vilify, our industry. These actions are not beneficial to meeting the challenges we face and are not what the American people deserve.
While today’s geopolitical situation is contributing to this energy crisis, bringing prices down and increasing supply will require a change in approach. You have called on our industry to increase energy production. We agree. Let’s work together. The U.S. energy sector needs cooperation and support from your Administration for our country to return to a path toward greater energy security, economic prosperity, and environmental protection.
We need clarity and consistency on policy matters ranging from leases and permits on federal lands, to the ability to permit and build critical infrastructure, to the proper role of regulation that considers both costs and benefits. Many of these elements are described in our industry’s recently released 10-point plan. Most importantly, we need an honest dialogue on how to best balance energy, economic, and environmental objectives – one that recognizes our industry is a vital sector of the U.S. economy and is essential to our national security.
A very diplomatic, but reasonable letter. But sadly, it is falling on deaf ears.
Today Biden was asked to respond to this and he MOCKED the CEO for being too sensitive and getting his feelings hurt:
REPORTER: "The Chevron CEO […] said that your administration has largely criticized the oil & gas industry & […] would need to take a change in approach in order to make progress in reducing energy prices."
BIDEN: "I didn't know they'd get their feelings hurt that quickly." pic.twitter.com/CnqiTb9wzw
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) June 21, 2022
When asked about Chevron’s call for Biden to change his approach, Biden responded by saying “He’s mildly sensitive. I didn’t know they’d get their feelings hurt that quickly.”
I’m sorry, but what an asshole and a bully!
Chevron’s CEO spent the entire first part of the letter explaining how this company had invested tons of money and increased production by 109,000 barrels per day in the beginning of 2022 over the first quarter of 2021. Not only that, but he also explained how they were increasing their expenditures by 50% because of the gas crisis.
He’s simply calling on Biden to work with the oil and gas industry to get through this crisis and Biden responds by mocking him. It’s unbelievable.
Biden then proceeds by falsely claiming the oil and gas industry are holding out, that they’ve got 9,000 fields to drill and they aren’t doing it. Another lie! Because Biden’s own administration is slow-walking the permits needed to build pipelines and drill on these 9,000 fields.
I’m telling you, this has probably pissed me off more than most things Biden says and does. We’re in the middle of a freaking gas crisis of his own making and he’s demanding that the oil companies spin on a dime and do whatever he asks because of his bad policies. And then when they ask him to change his approach and work with them better to solve this crisis, he freaking mocks them.
Ugh. I better stop now or I’m going to say something I really shouldn’t.