A memo from a Biden nominee to a key position has been leaked, and it pretty much shows what most of us have feared for quite some time.
Officials are prioritizing climate change over energy security, possibly putting our entire grid at risk.
The leaked documents are more than likely going to end the nomination of Laura Daniel-Davis as the Assistant Secretary of the Interior, reports Yahoo.
Let me put it this way… if this memo does end her nomination, we have some very serious problems among Senate Democrats who are willing to risk energy security for the sake of pushing an extreme climate agenda.
The Report
The leaked memo was from November 25, with a recommendation from former Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Director Amanda Lefton to charge 18.75 percent for offshore oil and gas lease sales in Alaska.
That percentage is the highest allowable by law. In that memo, Lefton also noted that charging only 16.67 would "offer greater energy security," however, it would not properly account for climate change.
Lefton wrote, "While a 16 ⅔ percent royalty may be more likely to facilitate expeditious and orderly development of OCS resources and potentially offer greater energy security to residents of the State of Alaska, a reasonable balancing of the environmental and economic factors for the American public favors the maximum 18 ¾ percent royalty for Cook Inlet leases," reports Fox News.
The memo was sent to DOI Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Laura Daniel-Davis, who is the nominee mentioned above. Daniel-Davis signed off on the higher rate, but she did not include the energy security comment in the public record.
If approved, Daniel-Davis would oversee all key gas and oil decisions, and she clearly has a climate change agenda over our energy security. At least one Democrat sees that, with Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) now pushing back against her nomination.
Manchin stated, "The contents of this memo speak volumes — if this is what this Administration truly believes and is how they are going to make decisions, it is unacceptable. It's a clear and intentional threat to energy security and the all-of-the above energy policy Congress has consistently reinforced."
He concluded, "I will not support anyone who agrees with this type of misguided reasoning."
Republicans jumped all over the leaked memo contents, with Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) stating, "Under Laura Daniel-Davis' leadership, [DOI] has worked overtime to halt American oil & natural gas development on federal lands. All of [Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee GOP] voted against her confirmation last Congress. Her nomination should be withdrawn immediately."
Republican committee member Sen. James Risch of Idaho stated, "I opposed the nomination of Laura Daniel-Davis in 2021 and 2022. If her nomination is not withdrawn — as it absolutely should be — I will oppose it again in 2023. This Department of Interior report confirms my existing concerns about her flawed policy beliefs and further disqualifies Daniel-Davis from serving in this important role."
Republican Steve Daines of Montana added, "Laura Daniel-Davis' nomination should have been pulled over a year ago when she first failed to pass committee. The latest attack on oil and gas is no surprise. The Biden administration, his out of touch nominees and Senate Democrats have long put the cult of climate change ahead of energy security and local communities."
With Manchin now on board, it is unlikely this nomination will be moving forward, forcing Biden to put forth a new nominee for a position that has been held up for his entire length of term.
