Although creeping downward recently, Nevadans are seeing gas prices continue to hover near all-time highs. | skitterphoto/Pixabay
Although creeping downward recently, Nevadans are seeing gas prices continue to hover near all-time highs. | skitterphoto/Pixabay
The Functional Government Initiative (FGI) has released a report contending that the introduction of the Defense Production Act by the Biden administration has more to do with its stake in the production of electric vehicles (EVs) than remedying the country's lagging energy efforts.
The move comes on the heels of inflation in the country being at a 40-year high and is rooted in the Biden administration's efforts to move the country to renewable energy, the recent report said. Invoking the act facilitates money for private developments geared toward removing lithium and cobalt, which are critical components to the manufacturing of EV batteries.
Should the initiative become successful, it could lead to less U.S. reliance on China; the report said. But that would not present a clear pathway to remedy the current inflation surge or lower energy prices in the short-term.
"Exploring the expansion of domestic extraction of minerals is a good step because it may create jobs for the next generation of American workers, but it does not tackle the current fuel crisis," Peter McGinnis, an FGI spokesman, said in a statement included in the report. "We are on Month 2 of 'we will do everything we can to lower gas prices,' yet nothing of substance has been done to accomplish that—as you can see every time you fill up your tank. Either the administration is hoping the problem will fix itself or that Americans will surrender to astronomically high gas prices. Neither scenario appears plausible. Along with inflation in general, energy prices are crushing the American dream. FGI will continue its investigation of which special interests are dictating the government's handling of this energy crisis."
As the White House continues to deny calls to consider opening up oil-based pipeline infrastructure, their strategy seems to be highlighting aggressive dictators and releasing the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the report said.
As a nonpartisan group, FGI seeks to hold those in government accountable in the decisions that they make, and the organization has gone on record that it is bewildered at the current response to alleviate gas prices, its website said. They ponder whether special interest groups are motivating the ongoing renewable energy policy of the current administration.
The current median price for regular gas in Nevada is $5.08 per gallon, the American Automobile Association said on Friday. The price was $3.38 a year ago.
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