On May 7, we learned of a cyberattack on
the Colonial Pipeline. This resulted in gas shortages and lines across the East
coast.
During a news conference, Energy Secretary
Granholm said, “pipelines are the best way to transport fuel.”
This is certainly a fact. Pipelines are
much safer than transporting oil by rail or truck.
Iowa has over 40,000 miles of pipeline
which go largely unnoticed but play a large role in providing our nation’s
transportation fuel.
It’s not lost on millions of Americans
that this statement from the Energy Secretary comes from the same Administration
who on day one shut down the Keystone Pipeline.
On day one, this Administration cut 10,000
jobs.
This has already resulted in rising gas
prices like we’re seeing across the country. In fact, gas prices will soon be
more expensive than at any time since the Obama administration.
This cyberattack showed America just how
critical pipeline infrastructure is for transportation and national security.
For an Administration that is stressing
infrastructure, maybe they should take a second look at the Keystone XL
pipeline.
I shudder to think that if the Colonial Pipeline was attempting to get a permit
today, the Biden administration might not even allow construction.
The United States should be encouraging
private infrastructure investment, not getting in the way of progress.
As long as our country is still relying on
oil to fill our gas tanks, we need to have the infrastructure and security in
place so that what happened last week does not happen again.
When there is a shortage of oil, biofuels
can be an easy substitute that can be subbed in.
But again, government red tape is getting
in the way. The EPA should quickly finalize a rule to broaden the availability
of existing infrastructure for use with E15 and related labeling
concerns.
This would allow more gas stations to use
their current tanks for E15.
We need a balanced approach and biofuels
such as ethanol and biodiesel can help achieve greenhouse gas reductions, strengthen
our national security and keep gas prices in check.
