NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran believes energy independence is key for the United States and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine brings that need to the forefront.
"I had a conversation with Sen. Schumer, the majority leader about this topic already today," Moran said Thursday. "The question is, can we change Biden administration policy that is opposed to fossil fuels and has taken significant steps to reduce the ability for the United States to be energy independent. Can we open up America for more exploration and drilling? What about the Keystone pipeline? Can we get greater refining capacity in the United States?"
The U.S. right now is still taking in Russian oil.
"We purchase about 700,000 barrels of oil and oil products from Russia every day," Moran said. "While we're giving aid on one hand to the Ukrainians to fight the Russians, it would also make a lot of sense to take away the resources that Russia has to engage in this battle. Oil markets are where they gain their most foreign currency."
Cutting the U.S. off immediately would result in some pain at the pump, and it isn't clear how much that might be, but it appears to Moran that the American people are willing to help.
"It would be painful for another dollar a gallon of gas," Moran said. "There is a price to be paid and we have to be willing to bear the burden. This is a time for our country to be united."
Moran is in favor of renewable fuels, as well, but those solutions won't come quickly enough to hit Russia in the wallet immediately the way an oil embargo would.