By In particular, the northern half of Washington to portions of Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota and northern Wisconsin are most likely to see colder-than-average temperatures.”
The mixture of a colder-than-unusual winter, the Democratic obsession with climate change, and their drive to turn the United States energy industry into California and Europe may see more Americans struggle to heat their homes over the next few months.
I hope you have some warm sweaters.
One report noted that “heating oil delivered to New York is the priciest ever. Retailers in Connecticut are rationing it to prevent panic buying. New England’s stockpiles of diesel and heating oil — the same product, taxed differently — are a third of normal levels. Natural gas inventories are also below average. A Massachusetts-based utility is imploring President Joe Biden to prepare emergency measures to prevent a gas shortage.
Add some cold to the mix, and in the best-case scenario, Northeast consumers will shoulder the highest energy bills in decades this winter. The Biden administration, under pressure to tame prices ahead of the midterm elections, is considering ways to stash more diesel and gasoline in New England. In the worst-case scenario, a cluster of states with a combined economy bigger than Japan’s will run out of fuel to keep the lights on and heat homes and businesses.
‘It’s going to be pretty bad,” said Marcus McGregor, head of commodities research at Conning Inc. “Diesel, heating oil and natural gas prices are through the roof. When you’re on a fixed salary, how does it impact your overall budget? It has to be bad.’”
Bloomberg has said that retailers are already rationing oil as reserves of diesel and heating oil stand at about 34 percent of normal levels. Signs that we’re about to enter a crisis are beginning to show as the cold months start up.
Heating oil delivered to New York is the priciest ever. Retailers in Connecticut are rationing it to prevent panic buying. New England’s stockpiles of diesel and heating oil — the same product, taxed differently — are a third of normal levels. Natural gas inventories are also below average. A Massachusetts-based utility is imploring President Joe Biden to prepare emergency measures to prevent a gas shortage, according to Bloomberg.
Add some cold to the mix, and in the best-case scenario, Northeast consumers will shoulder the highest energy bills in decades this winter. The Biden administration, under pressure to tame prices ahead of the midterm elections, is considering ways to stash more diesel and gasoline in New England. In the worst-case scenario, a cluster of states with a combined economy bigger than Japan’s will run out of fuel to keep the lights on and heat homes and businesses.
“It’s going to be pretty bad,” said Marcus McGregor, head of commodities research at Conning Inc. “Diesel, heating oil and natural gas prices are through the roof. When you’re on a fixed salary, how does it impact your overall budget? It has to be bad.”
The Northeast is no stranger to fuel constraints. Its dearth of pipelines and refineries means the shale fields of Texas and Pennsylvania might as well be on the other side of the world. But now, a global supply crunch intensified by the war in Ukraine is putting the region at risk of an energy disaster to rival the one menacing Europe. The Northeast will compete with countries across the Atlantic and around the world for fuel to generate power, fill up trucks and keep the cold at bay.
The Washington Free Beacon reported, “Even as the Northeast is facing energy shortages, Biden at a campaign event in New York on Sunday reiterated his commitment to shut down the U.S. fossil fuel industry. “No more drilling,” Biden yelled at a climate protester in the crowd. Meanwhile, in Michigan, Democratic lieutenant governor Garlin Gilchrist on Saturday promised to ‘close more coal plants” to ‘strengthen our state’s response to the climate crisis.’
The threat of energy instability poses a difficult conundrum for the Biden administration, according to Bloomberg, because the administration may have to choose between boosting oil exports to European allies facing economic pain through their participation in sanctions against Russia and keeping oil supplies at home to help U.S. consumers.”
The Washington Examiner recently noted, “According to the Energy Information Administration, residents who rely on home heating oil will spend an average of $2,354 to heat their homes this winter — a 27% increase from the previous winter and the highest price point in more than 25 years. The Northeast relies heavily on heating oil, which serves as the primary source of heating for 18% of households.
Those who use natural gas for heating will also spend an eye-popping average of $1,094 — 28% more than last winter.”
Throughout the last few months, Biden has tapped into the energy reserves in order to keep fuel prices artificially lower in an effort to save the Democratic majorities in the Senate and House. While that cynical tactic may have blunted the midterms for Republicans and made Hunter Biden’s buddies in China some money, it’s not going to do anything for cold Americans this winter.
That’s a tap that can only be used a handful of times. Fuel storage in the United States has fallen to its lowest point in over 70 years, containing merely enough emergency stockpiles to last for 26 days.
I’d suggest buying an electric blanket, but electricity bills have been skyrocketing under the liberal plan to Californize the United States, too.
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