Reporter Presses Biden Official To Embrace Race Narrative On Gas Prices

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm I was asked to comment on rural and urban areas disparities In gas prices by a reporter He seemed to be suggesting that there was a race-driven explanation for the phenomenon.

April Ryan from TheGrio observed during Monday press briefing That “there were some communities that felt the relief” As a result, President Joe Biden The release of millions of barrels from Strategic Petroleum Reserve In order to lower the price of fuel, “other communities did not, particularly those in urban areas.” Granholm was asked by her to explain. “there was such a difference in communities with gas prices in one community versus the other.”

Official replied that fuel prices vary across the country because of infrastructure costs. “Some rural areas, for example, or some who might be at the very end of a line or may not even have a line, they may get it trucked in. It takes longer and it’s more expensive,” She spoke. “If you’re not near a refinery, that’s another reason why the transportation costs are tacked on at the pump. So you’re seeing, for example, when refineries go down in regions, then the prices go up in those regions much more than they would nationwide.”

Ryan did not give up on the issue. “But specifically, the urban areas,” She asserted. “Because there was still a big pinch in urban areas with these gas prices when the outlying communities, particularly majority white communities, were seeing the drop to $3.00, and many of these urban areas were seeing $4.00 and $5.00 gas prices. Could you speak to that?”

Granholm pointed out that gas stations are often owned by individuals, rather than oil companies. This suggests that authorities should pursue those who profit from emergency situations. “State attorney generals should go after because gouging is illegal,” She spoke. “You cannot take advantage of a crisis to jack up the prices in that way.”

Granholm and Ryan made the exchange as fuel prices continue rising, which worsens inflationary pressures facing households. According to the National Average Price of Gas, it currently stands at $3.45 per Gallon. data From AAA, which is a 45% increase over the previous administration of Biden. Karine Jean-Pierre, White House Press Secretary, claimed Monday that “House Republicans are using their narrow majority to force the American people to pay higher gas prices, just as big oil companies are amassing record profits.”

Recently, Fuel analytics company GasBuddy marked Average gas prices for 2022 at $3.96 per gallons, which is far higher than the $3.02 per gallons average charted 2021 and the $2.17/gallon average charted 2020. GasBuddy is still available. forecasts After approaching $4.00 per gallon during the summer, prices will fall to $3.49 per gallon nationally in 2023. However, this reading would still be among the highest prices at the pump for more than a decade.

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