Biden's Energy Secretary Admits 'Pipe Is the Best Way to Go' After Oil Shortage Batters the East Coast

Brittany M. Hughes | May 12, 2021
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Less than four months after President Joe Biden nixed the Keystone XL Pipeline project via executive order, effectively killing thousands of oil jobs to appease climate change alarmists and Native American activists, his own Department of Energy secretary said that “pipe is the best way to go” after a cyber attack led to an alarming fuel shortage on the East Coast this week.

The attack on Colonial Pipeline left many fueling stations running low on fuel early this week, sparking a public panic that led to long lines at the pumps and, in some places, sent gas prices soaring. While the effect is thought to be temporary, as the company says it should be up and running normally again sometime this weekend or shortly after, the quick effect on the public sparks memories of the Great Toilet Paper Rush of 2020. Local and state officials have begged people not to panic and begin hoarding gas, promising the issue will be short-lived.

But however temporary, the semi-crisis was enough, it seems, to get the Biden administration to admit that “pipe is the best way to go” when it comes to getting gas to consumers.

During a White House press briefing Tuesday, a reporter asked DoE Secretary Jennifer Granholm whether the administration has considered using trains to get oil to the areas currently struggling under a deficiency of gas at fueling stations.

“What is the feasibility of using rail cars to transport fuel into the affected areas?” a reporter asked.

“The DOT is looking at that, these are not easy solutions ‘cause there may or may not be the right rail cars, or may not be the deep water parts for the Jones Act to be able to respond,” Granholm answered, referring to a 1920 federal law that regulates maritime commerce. “So this particular area of the country…this is why we have doubled down on insuring there is the ability to truck oil and gas in.”

“But it’s…the pipe is the best way to go,” she finally admitted, adding that “Hopefully [Colonial] will be able to in fact restore operations but the end of the week as they have said.”
 

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