The United States is on track to receive almost 3 million barrels of crude oil from Venezuela this month. This is because Chevron, an oil producer, has been authorized to ship more than 100,000 barrels per day of Venezuelan crude to the U.S. under a license from the Treasury Department.
This move has raised eyebrows and questions about the Biden administration’s energy policies, particularly its reliance on foreign oil rather than supporting domestic oil producers.
Experts in the energy industry have criticized President Biden’s approach towards the domestic oil industry, accusing him of outright hostility. Robert Rapier, a chemical engineer with decades of experience in the energy industry, has expressed his disappointment in Biden’s approach, stating that the President should be working with the oil industry rather than against it.
Rapier believes that the oil industry is crucial for U.S. manufacturing, transportation, and national security, and that Biden’s stance towards the industry is harmful to the U.S. economy.
The surge in Venezuelan oil to the U.S. is part of a larger energy policy that has been months in the making. American officials went to Venezuela early last year to open a dialogue with President Nicolas Maduro about easing sanctions so the country can sell its oil on the international market to combat rising prices amid Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The Biden administration offered Venezuela sanctions relief and eased certain sanctions related to oil, giving Chevron a green light to import Venezuelan crude.
The administration’s efforts to increase Venezuela’s oil exports really kicked into high gear over the summer, when Saudi Arabia rebuffed Biden’s efforts to get the country to increase the oil supply.
The U.S. turned to Venezuela for help, a move that experts have criticized due to Venezuela’s dirty oil production practices, which harm the environment and local communities.
Critics argue that Biden’s energy policies have limited U.S. domestic energy production and that his approach is causing significant economic losses.
According to an analysis by economists Stephen Moore and Casey Mulligan for the Committee to Unleash Prosperity, the Biden administration’s policies have caused the U.S. to produce significantly less oil and gas during Biden’s presidency than it would have during a second term for former President Trump. This translates into an economic loss of roughly $100 billion a year.
The Biden administration’s approach to energy policy has been criticized for its reliance on foreign oil, particularly from countries with whom the U.S. has hostile relationships, such as Venezuela.
Experts have raised concerns about the environmental impact of Venezuela’s oil production practices and have argued that the U.S. should be focusing on domestic oil production to support the economy and national security.
While the Biden administration has defended its energy policies, it remains to be seen how the U.S. will balance its energy needs with its domestic oil industry.