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Refreshing: Biden Energy Secretary Calls On Oil Producers To Increase Output, Says Crisis Has Us ‘On A War Footing’

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Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm dodged a reporter asking questions about the gas crisis following a speech in which she called on oil producers to increase output, insisting the country is “on a war footing.”

Granholm’s and Biden’s responses to the surging prices of gas are much more forceful.

“We are on war footing,” Granholm said in a speech to executives at the CERAWeek energy conference in Houston, according to Bloomberg News.

“That means [crude oil]There are many releases of strategic reserves around the globe. And that means you producing more right now if and when you can,” she continued.

“I hope your investors are saying this to you as well. In this moment of crisis, we need more supply.”

That’s quite a different message from the one given recently by President Biden, who said gas prices are going to go up and we “can’t do much right now.”

RELATED: Biden Shrugs Off Gas Prices, Blames Russia: ‘Can’t Do Much Right Now’

Question from the Reporter: Energy Secretary

Following her speech, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm reportedly ‘dodged’ questions from a Fox News reporter.

After being seemingly surprised by Fox News Senior Political Editor Andrew Murray’s presence, Granholm was protected by aides and avoided further questions on the gas crisis.

“Is there any talk about bringing Iran back to the table because of gas prices?” Murray asked, but those around her blocked access, with one aide even holding up a folder to block a camera.

Fox reports that Granholm “refused to answer questions” though her press secretary, Charisma Troiano, asked that any questions be directed at her.

RELATED: Saudi Arabia leaders decline to take calls from President Biden but accept calls from Putin

Pivot

Granholm’s remarks are a refreshing pivot calling on increased domestic oil production as a means to blunt the staggering gas prices Americans are seeing at the pump.

It was a pivotal moment from yesterday’s President Biden, who shrugged any potential role in the resolution of the crisis.

“It’s going to go up,” Biden said. “Can’t do much right now.”

Granholm even sees it as a turning point.

Granholm outright laughed just a few short months ago at the notion she would do anything about gas prices as they were already climbing – before the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Granholm in November said the Energy Department was predicting “we are going to turn the corner in early 2022 in terms of pricing at the pump.”

This prediction was not true.

The Energy Secretary talked earlier this week about plans by the administration to buy oil from Iran under a new nuclear deal to end the US gas crisis.

“If there is a byproduct of increased supply, so be it,” she said. “But the deal is all about making sure the world is safer because Iran doesn’t have a nuclear weapon.”