Grand Canyon Times

Sen. John Barrasso, a ranking member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, recently condemned Democrats for opposing amendments that would reduce energy costs for American households in a recent press release.

Last year, power prices skyrocketed due to the conclusion of COVID-19-related closures, the Russian-Ukraine war and inflation caused by government spending.

Bloomberg reports that one in six Americans currently have difficulty paying their electricity bills on time as a result of soaring power rates.

During July of this year, American families experienced a 15.2% rise in power costs, compared to a 4% increase in 2021; this marks the highest increase in 13 years.

According to Bloomberg, Americans owe nearly $16 billion in overdue electricity bills, double the amount owed before the outbreak.

In March of this year, Senate Democrats rejected an energy measure presented by Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) that would have required the Biden administration to revive oil and gas production on U.S. soil and initiate a renewable energy development program, according to a press release from Daines' office.

"These actions diminished American energy security, hurt our allies and empowered our adversaries," Daines said. "My bill will help get the United States back on track."

In addition to limiting fossil fuel output, the Biden administration has prioritized renewable energy production.

After the outbreak, Biden's administration abandoned the Keystone XL Pipeline and limited natural gas and oil leases on American territory, resulting in an increase in the price of electricity and gas.

Biden was then forced to approach other governments for oil and gas as domestic energy costs continue to climb.

According to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), the temporary halt of gasoline prices is the result of consumers not filling their tanks to capacity and will not last.

Republicans also criticized Sen. Mark Kelly for voting four times against the Keystone XL Pipeline, despite his promises to work toward decreasing the state's gas and energy costs, according to the National Republican Senate Committee (NRSC). 

The Wall Street Journal reports that Biden does not have a comprehensive strategy to reduce long-term energy prices at this time.

In comparison to 2021, the national average price of electricity has grown by 7.4% this year, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).