Biden-Harris Green Agenda Under Fire: Electrification Push Could Spike Household Costs

By Jennifer Wentworth | Monday, 28 October 2024 11:10 PM
3
Views 2.9K
Image Credit : Walmart Corporate Communications

The Biden-Harris administration's green agenda, which includes a significant push for electrification, has come under scrutiny following the release of data suggesting that this move could escalate costs for American households.

This contradicts the administration's previous claims that electrification would reduce energy costs. The data, released on October 17, has sparked a debate among experts, with some arguing that the administration's approach is an example of extreme climate policy negatively impacting everyday Americans.

According to the Daily Caller, the Biden-Harris administration has prioritized curbing residential fossil fuel consumption as a key component of its environmental strategy. This push for electrification was justified on the premise that it would lower energy costs. However, recent residential energy price data from the Department of Energy (DOE) indicates that electricity was approximately four times as expensive as natural gas in 2024.

 WATCH: BEYONCÉ ENDORSING KAMALA AT TEXAS RALLYbell_image

Daren Bakst, director of the Competitive Enterprise Institute’s Center for Energy and Environment, told the Daily Caller News Foundation, “The Department of Energy has consistently shown that natural gas is a much cheaper energy source for households than electricity. Government policies trying to block the use of natural gas in favor of electricity will significantly drive up prices, making home heating and appliance use needlessly expensive. The poor will get hurt the most because, compared to higher income households, they spend a greater share of their household income on meeting basic needs such as staying warm in the winter.”

 CROSS AT YOUR OWN RISK: NYC LIFTS JAYWALKING BAN, BUT NOT EVERYONE’S CHEERING!bell_image

The DOE under the Biden-Harris administration has implemented numerous rules restricting the use of gas appliances. This includes revised standards on furnaces issued in September 2023, which could potentially prohibit 40-60% of gas furnaces in homes. The agency also increased efficiency requirements for water heaters, claiming that these changes would save U.S. consumers $11.4 billion on their energy and water bills annually.

 HAITI'S GRIM REALITY: VIOLENT GANGS PUSH THOUSANDS INTO A DAILY FIGHT FOR SURVIVALbell_image

However, the data released on October 17 paints a different picture. It shows that electricity was significantly more expensive than fossil fuels, with a price of $47.36 per million British Thermal Units (BTU) compared to $13.38 and $33.59 per million BTU for natural gas and propane respectively. This suggests that the switch from gas-powered to electric appliances could inflate utility costs by over 3.5 times, not including the increased installation costs.

 THE ELECTION WILDCARD: WHY RISING INFLATION NUMBERS ARE FUELING UNCERTAINTYbell_image

O.H. Skinner, executive director of the Alliance for Consumers and the former solicitor general of Arizona, criticized the administration's approach. He told the Daily Caller News Foundation, “One of the most offensive bait-and-switch moves being played by officials in Washington D.C. and coastal enclaves is the push to force electric appliances on everyone, everywhere, even when natural gas can often be dramatically cheaper…It’s time that officials in D.C. stopped trying to micromanage people’s lives and make everyone hew to a one size fits all approach to their homes.”

 WATCH: BAIT TRUMP SIGN PRANKbell_image

Robert Bryce, an energy sector expert, accused the Biden-Harris administration of intentionally delaying the release of the price data on October 3. He pointed out that since 2011, the DOE has never published this information later than August. He had predicted two weeks before the data was released that the cost figures would highlight the high costs of electricity relative to fossil fuels, a prediction that has proven accurate.

 TODAY IS THE LAST DAY FOR EARLY VOTING IN 8 STATES—WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR!bell_image

Bakst further criticized the administration's approach, stating, “This electrification push is a typical example of climate extremism. There’s little to no consideration of how these policies will hurt Americans and the poor.”

The White House held an “electrification summit” in December 2022, which included the non-governmental organization Rewiring America, known for its goal to “electrify everything.” The DOE, however, has not responded to requests for comment on the matter.

X