The Sconi

As gas prices slow their upward trend, Democrats on Capitol Hill are preparing to take a victory lap.

Meanwhile, natural gas prices are rising drastically, almost offsetting the relief consumers have seen at the pump.

Conservatives are attacking President Joe Biden’s administration for what the GOP calls a 'war on American energy', spurred by Biden's attempts to lead on climate change legislation and incentivizing renewable energy sources, according to Town Hall.

Since Biden has taken office, natural gas prices have risen by nearly 280%, making it difficult for many Americans to pay their utility bills, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA).  

"Now we are at that time of year when attention shifts from gasoline to natural gas,” said Liz Peek, an opinion contributor at The Hill, “Demand for natural gas will climb as we approach the winter months; prices, already at 14-year highs, will climb too."

Residential natural gas prices in Wisconsin increased 111.6% between January 2021 and May 2022, according to the latest EIA data. The price per thousand cubic feet for consumers in January 2021 was $6.90, and in May 2022 it was $14.60.

On the day Biden took office, Jan. 20, 2021, natural gas cost $2.57 per million British thermal units (MMBtu). Since Biden was elected president, the price of natural gas has risen 279% to $9.75/MMBtu as of Aug. 23.

“The pain of soaring natural gas prices will be felt by a majority of Americans due to the unavoidable necessity of the fuel," said Sencer Brown, managing editor for Townhall.

Approximately half of Americans' heat sources come from natural gas, which accounts for over 35% of the country's power generation, according to Town Hall. Consequently, consumers will continue to pay more for energy and heating during the cooler months as costs continue to rise.

"U.S. natural gas prices just hit a 14-year record high,” Stephen Moore, senior economic contributor at FreedomWorks and founder of several conservative organizations, stated in a tweet Aug. 23. “Congratulations Joe Biden on another accomplishment."

Brown argues that the rising cost of natural gas is the result of Biden's "war on American energy." According to Brown, high natural gas prices are the result of Biden's energy agenda.

“We do not have the political will to produce it," Peek said, adding that Biden will not approve new projects to increase natural gas production capabilities. (Even though) we have at least a 100 years’ supply of natural gas.”

Peek also said increased natural gas prices are so high because “Biden pledged this year to double our exports of liquified natural gas (LNG), which means less natural gas available to American consumers."