API's president and CEO discusses fuel prices for the summer driving season

(The following statement is from the American Petroleum Institute’s president and CEO, Mike Sommers.) “This ‘Memorial Day’-weekend, ‘Triple-A’ predicts that there’ll be 60-percent more travelers on the roads, and in the skies, than last year. While that remains short of pre-pandemic levels, it still means that over 37-million Americans are expected to travel. As our economy recovers from the pandemic, we are reminded that demand for personal transportation and energy continue to go hand-in-hand. In fact, in April, U-S petroleum-demand rose to 19-point-six-million barrels, a day; that’s nearly at April 2019 levels. “As America’s vaccine-program advances—and people feel more comfortable traveling—demand for fuel increases. ‘Triple-A’ also predicts that increased driving-season demand could lead to pressure on gasoline-prices, and higher prices at the pump, across the nation. And, while today’s advanced fuels and innovative technologies are helping American consumers benefit from more-fuel-efficient vehicles that drive farther and run cleaner, consumers take notice when prices rise at the pump. “Many of the Biden-administration’s energy-policies hurt our ability to meet growing demand with fuels and energy produced in the U-S—by American workers. Increasing taxes on American energy-production, pausing new development on federal lands and waters, and stopping important infrastructure like pipelines hurts America in the long run. American energy-policies should focus on increasing domestic production—to help U-S workers, consumers, and the economy. Natural-gas- and oil-companies anchor entire communities—supporting thousands of local businesses—while the federal government itself takes in almost 150-million dollars, from natural gas and oil, every single day. “Today, more U-S production could put downward pressure on gasoline-prices—and reduce reliance on imported energy from foreign nations that are hostile to American interests. That, in turn, helps support American jobs, strengthens national security, and generates more government-revenue for local communities, across the country.”