{"id":2579439,"date":"2026-03-13T09:37:02","date_gmt":"2026-03-13T13:37:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-crisis-in-the-strait-of-hormuz-is-worse-because-of-dems-disastrous-energy-policy\/"},"modified":"2026-03-13T09:42:28","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T13:42:28","slug":"the-crisis-in-the-strait-of-hormuz-is-worse-because-of-dems-disastrous-energy-policy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-crisis-in-the-strait-of-hormuz-is-worse-because-of-dems-disastrous-energy-policy\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran War Oil Crisis Is Worse Because Of Bad Energy Policy"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fthe-crisis-in-the-strait-of-hormuz-is-worse-because-of-dems-disastrous-energy-policy%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2579439&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>&#8211; The piece argues that energy security is being strained by a combination of Middle East disruption and U.S. and California policy choices,using Iran\u2019s actions in the Persian Gulf and an accompanying EIA chart as context.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; It critiques U.S.policy decisions under the Biden administration, including temporary restrictions on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bureau-of-land-managements-new-conservation-rule-will-restrict-public-access-to-federal-lands-sen-barrasso\/\" title=\"New &#039;Conservation&#039; Rule by Bureau of Land Management Limits Public Access to Federal Lands: Sen. Barrasso.\">federal land oil<\/a> and gas leases and new regulations, claiming these moves reduced drilling, refining capacity, and overall supply, while the administration claimed they were boosting refinery output and reducing prices.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; California is portrayed as tightening its oil industry through regulation, leading to lower production, refinery closures, and higher gasoline dependence on imports from other regions (even described in media headlines about shortages).<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The discussion notes a prominent industry backlash, including a Chevron letter warning that proposed California greenhouse gas rules could shutter the last remaining refineries in the state, with broader implications for neighboring states and national security.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; It highlights the view of the U.S. oil and gas industry that a domestic-and-regional approach is essential: expanding production in the Western Hemisphere (Alberta, Argentina, the U.S., Venezuela, and possibly Brazil and Mexico) could provide a diversified mix of crude and reduce exposure to global shocks.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The piece contrasts this with the idea that simply \u201cdrill, baby, drill\u201d won\u2019t quickly resolve price shocks from geopolitical events, pointing to near-term refinery capacity as a bigger bottleneck and urging modernization to <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >handle lighter crude produced domestically<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; It notes political shifts,including Donald Trump\u2019s 2025 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fed-interest-rate-cut-could-have-significant-2024-election-impact-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Fed interest rate cut could have &#039;significant&#039; 2024 election impact ... Washington Examiner\">national energy emergency<\/a> declaration and his push for streamlined permitting and expanded drilling,as part of a broader debate about energy security versus environmental policy.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; the article argues that while strategic reserves have value, true energy security lies in energy that\u2019s physically available where it\u2019s needed-\u201cthe safety net underneath our feet\u201d-and in a more resilient, diversified supply chain that can weather global disruptions. The piece is attributed to Chris Bray, who also maintains a Substack.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>As Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/interactive\/2026\/03\/12\/business\/energy-environment\/iran-war-ship-attacks.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">attacks oil tankers<\/a> in the Persian Gulf, take a moment to look at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eia.gov\/dnav\/pet\/hist\/LeafHandler.ashx?n=PET&amp;s=MCRFPCA2&amp;f=A\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">this chart<\/a> from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA):<\/p>\n<figure><figcaption>\n<div>\n<p>         <span>Image Credit<\/span>Screenshot       <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>A series of policy choices in the U.S. has caused preventable energy insecurity that worsens the shock from foreign disruptions. The Biden administration <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/why-is-biden-halting-federal-oil-and-gas-sales-b8f03552c2c2fa7ec0dfc5debeb3f882\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">temporarily restricted<\/a> the sale of oil and gas leases on federal lands, implemented <a href=\"https:\/\/www.americanenergyalliance.org\/2022\/11\/125-ways-biden-and-the-democrats-have-made-it-harder-to-produce-oil-gas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">new regulations<\/a> that made it harder to drill oil and refine gasoline, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2022\/06\/15\/business\/biden-oil-companies-gas-prices.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">and then<\/a> dishonestly &ldquo;increased the pressure on them to boost refining capacity and bring down costs at the pump.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, California has been strangling its oil industry with a regulatory environment that has reduced oil production and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxla.com\/news\/iran-war-gas-prices-california-refinery-closures\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">driven refineries to close<\/a>. Here&rsquo;s a much-discussed <a href=\"https:\/\/finance.yahoo.com\/news\/gasoline-starved-california-turning-fuel-160000840.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">current reality<\/a>, summarized in a recent Bloomberg headline: &ldquo;Gasoline-Starved California Is Turning to Fuel From the Bahamas.&rdquo; On social media, a random user made the point with great clarity, despite posting under a handle calling himself a ham sandwich:<\/p>\n<figure>\n<p><span><\/p>\n<blockquote data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<div lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<p>In 1980 California had 43 oil refineries, and 179,700 active, exploratory, or &#8216;drilling&#8217; wells.<\/p>\n<p>Californias economy ranked #4 on the globe producing 622,000 barrels a day. <br \/>Price of Gas,67 cents a gallon.<\/p>\n<p>Today, 39,000 active wells, 8 refineries,and price per gallon, $6.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&mdash; I want a BLT (@3584HamSammich) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/3584HamSammich\/status\/2024682074398183807?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 20, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><\/span> <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>See that cluster of black on the California coast? The EIA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eia.gov\/naturalgas\/crudeoilreserves\/pdf\/ARR_2023_TABLE_6.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">says<\/a> that California has about 1.5 billion barrels of proven reserves, though there are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.boem.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/documents\/regions\/pacific-ocs-region\/oil-gas\/2021-Assessment-of-Oil-and-Gas-Resources_Assessment-of-the-Pacific-Outer-Continental-Shelf.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">credible estimates<\/a> that the state&rsquo;s actual reserves are <em>far<\/em> higher. And most of it isn&rsquo;t coming out of the ground, or about to.<\/p>\n<p>In a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chevron.com\/newsroom\/2026\/q1\/californias-economy-faces-threats-with-new-energy-policy-changes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">letter<\/a> to California officials, Chevron warned that new <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/defense-bill-that-defunds-dei-provides-compensation-for-vaccine-related-discharges-advances-in-house\/\" title=\"House Advances Defense Bill Defunding DEI, Offering Vaccine Discharge Compensation\">greenhouse gas regulations<\/a> being considered by the California Air Resources Board would drive the last few refineries out of the state entirely. &ldquo;The California energy industry&rsquo;s economic, industrial, environmental, and national security benefits have been the foundation of a healthy, prosperous state and nation,&rdquo; a Chevron official wrote. &ldquo;Adversarial policies at local, regional and state levels have eroded that foundation. These proposed regulatory changes threaten to destroy it.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The loss of more refineries in California would be a logistics threat to the state&rsquo;s significant military bases, but it would also be devastating to Arizona and Nevada, which get <a href=\"https:\/\/stillwaterassociates.com\/arizona-and-nevada-brace-for-impact-as-california-refinery-exodus-creates-gasoline-supply-crunch\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">much of their gasoline<\/a> from their neighbor.<\/p>\n<p>On social media, the US Oil and Gas Association (OGA) has ruthlessly mocked California&rsquo;s failed governor for his recent attacks on the Trump administration over rising prices at the pump.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<p><span><\/p>\n<blockquote data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<div lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<p>Ah Governor,  <\/p>\n<p>When it comes to talking about gas prices, you are like a small child that has accidentally wandered into a movie theater.  <\/p>\n<p>Except in this case &ndash; no one is being touched by your helpless cries.  <\/p>\n<p>They just wish you would be quiet.<\/p>\n<p>Because you did this &#128071; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/RFOHl6fzoJ\">https:\/\/t.co\/RFOHl6fzoJ<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/fdPjKTqOrT\">pic.twitter.com\/fdPjKTqOrT<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&mdash; US Oil &amp; Gas Association (@US_OGA) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/US_OGA\/status\/2032221044963258510?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 12, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><\/span> <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Appreciating anyone who makes fun of Gavin Newsom, I got in touch with them. The president of the OGA, Tim Stewart, views the war in Iran as a <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/US_OGA\/status\/2032259045600719010\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">crisis that will pass<\/a>, but the madness of California energy policy is a threat to the nation that keeps getting worse. The point, for now, is to see what the bottleneck in the Persian Gulf is teaching us about energy stability. &ldquo;Smart economies learn from circumstances like this,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<p>Early in Donald Trump&rsquo;s second term, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-sold-a-million-barrels-from-us-strategic-petroleum-reserve-to-china-owned-gas-giant\/\" title=\"Biden Sold a Million Barrels From US Strategic Petroleum Reserve to China...Owned ... Giant\">national energy policy<\/a> took a hard turn away from the Biden years. Trump <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/presidential-actions\/2025\/01\/declaring-a-national-energy-emergency\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">declared a national energy emergency<\/a> on inauguration day, arguing for the the need to secure &ldquo;a reliable, diversified, and affordable supply of energy.&rdquo; Among the elements of the plan: more drilling, expedited regulatory approval for new oil infrastructure, and fewer regulations.<\/p>\n<p>Stewart argues that more domestic oil and gas production isn&rsquo;t primarily about cheap gas and consumer convenience. &ldquo;If your energy supplies depend on a foreign choke point,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;that&rsquo;s a national security issue.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>But domestic production is only part of the solution. &ldquo;The administration is working to build out a block in the Western Hemisphere that will provide that insurance in the future,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;&ldquo;Between Alberta, Argentina, the U.S., Venezuela and depending on if Brazil and Mexico play nice &ndash; that is 40% of the global production today,&rdquo; providing &ldquo;a wide mix of heavy, light, sour and sweet crude.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>With that expanded and diversified supply, Stewart said, &ldquo;the next time something bad happens across the globe, the Western Hemisphere will be truly insulated from price shocks elsewhere.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The policy of &ldquo;drill, baby, drill&rdquo; isn&rsquo;t going to settle the Iran War price shocks soon, Stewart said, because it&rsquo;s a slow process to bring on significant new production. And refinery capacity is a bigger near-term problem. &ldquo;Our refinery infrastructure is still outdated and designed to process the heavier sour crude we used to import from the Middle East, Canada and Venezuela,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;They are slowly in the process of recalibrating to take the light sweet crude we produce here.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<p>And new refinery capacity should follow, incentivized by the Trump administration&rsquo;s energy policies. In a positive sign from Texas, investors are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2026\/03\/11\/trump-us-oil-refinery-reliance-ambani-texas-india-shale-wti.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">planning to build<\/a> the first new American refinery in fifty years.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, as the administration releases emergency oil reserves, Stewart argues that the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/hgeo\/opr\/strategic-petroleum-reserve\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Strategic Petroleum Reserve<\/a> isn&rsquo;t our real source of energy security. The real safety net oil reserve, he says, is &ldquo;the one underneath our feet.&rdquo; We just need to be able to use it.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>      Chris Bray is a former infantry sergeant in the U.S. Army, and has a history PhD from the University of California Los Angeles, not that it did him any good. He also posts on Substack, at &#8220;Tell Me How This Ends,&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/chrisbray.substack.com\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>US policy fuels energy insecurity amid Iran crisis<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2086,"featured_media":2579440,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/refinery-scaled.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[73128,3823,7393],"class_list":["post-2579439","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-energy-policy-2","tag-iran","tag-oil"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/refinery-scaled.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2579439","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2086"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2579439"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2579439\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2579443,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2579439\/revisions\/2579443"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2579440"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2579439"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2579439"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2579439"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}