Staff Reports
The Biden administration has concocted yet another harebrained scheme to burn taxpayer dollars, this time in the form of an $860 million grant program aimed at reducing methane emissions in the oil and gas sector. It’s part of their unyielding obsession with so-called “climate change,” which they seem determined to combat no matter the cost to the American economy.
The grant funding is open to just about anyone with a pulse, ranging from industry groups and higher education institutions to for-profit and not-for-profit entities, including state and local governments and tribes. One can only imagine the bureaucratic nightmare that awaits these hopeful recipients as they wade through red tape to get a piece of this pie.
Biden administration allocates $850 million to slash methane from oil and gas industry https://t.co/oReusJwbQn
— Trump2024_no_matter_what (@TexasTrump2024) June 21, 2024
Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, dripping with the usual green rhetoric, claimed this initiative would usher in clean technologies and drive innovation. According to her, it’s a win-win, magically resulting in massive economic and environmental benefits. In reality, it’s more likely to be a colossal waste of money, funding pet projects and feel-good schemes that do little for the substantial energy needs of Americans.
During a call with reporters, senior administration officials hyped the three areas set to receive these funds. First up are three enormous awards aimed at existing wells and infrastructure—because nothing says efficiency like throwing money at old equipment. The second focus area involves 26 awards for projects related to reducing emissions from an assortment of oil and gas machinery. Lastly, a mishmash of programs will tackle local-scale methane monitoring in disadvantaged communities and foster collaboration, likely yet another pretext for further government intervention.
This splurge fest doesn’t stop there; it builds on earlier funding, such as a $350 million allocation for states already doled out by Biden’s administration. These outlays are part of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, a laughably named piece of legislation earmarking $369 billion for climate and clean energy whims of Democrats. Recent regulations include a Bureau of Land Management rule on gas flaring and an EPA proposal for higher fees on heavily polluting facilities, sparking outrage from oil and gas groups planning to fight back in court.
Despite the backlash, Biden’s administration remains unwavering, touting this latest action as a key step toward achieving the president’s climate goals. In their rose-colored world, these costly green dreams are poised to deliver us from environmental doom. Meanwhile, hardworking Americans brace themselves for rising energy costs and further government overreach.
