Top White House Official Admits Gas Prices Will Be ‘Rough’ This Summer

Then-nominee for Secretary of Energy, former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, testifies at a hearing in Washington, on Jan. 27, 2021. (Graeme Jennings/Pool via Reuters/File Photo)

Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said that gas prices for this summer are “going to be rough” as Thursday’s data shows the average price for a gallon is nearing $5.

“Yeah, this summer is going to be rough,” she said in response to a CBS News statement about whether she has any statements to reassure Americans about the record-high prices.

She continued, “I‘ll just be honest with you. The Energy Information [Administration], which is the entity that projects forward the price of gas the price of oil, has said that by the fall, it should be down to $4.27 a gallon, and by late this year, early next year, it’ll be down to $4, maybe under $4, maybe high [of] $3 a gallon.”

Data published Thursday by AAA shows the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline has again jumped nationwide overnight. Currently, the national average stands at $4.97.

Another price tracking service, GasBuddy, says that the national average for regular gasoline has eclipsed $5 as of Thursday. In many states, the average price has remained above $5 per gallon for several weeks, and AAA data shows that drivers are paying $6.40 on average in California.

“So there will be some relief on the horizon, but during the summer driving season, it is going to be rough, no doubt about it because we have such a demand and supply mismatch on the global market for oil,” Granholm also said Wednesday.

While Granholm didn’t make any mention of the Russia-Ukraine conflict during her CBS interview, she posted a video on Tuesday that, in part, suggested Russia was responsible for the spike in gas prices. Like other administration officials and Democrats, Granholm, the former governor of Michigan, has also touted electric vehicles as an alternative to the surging cost of gas.

Blaming Moscow for the increase has become a common tactic among White House officials in recent weeks, although Republicans have pointed to data showing gas prices have steadily risen since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021.

Months before the Ukraine conflict started, Granholm was asked in November 2021 on whether there is a plan to increase oil production in the United States to which she started laughing.

“That is hilarious,” Granholm said at the time, laughing. “Would that I had the magic wand on this. As you know, of course, oil is a global market. It is controlled by a cartel. That cartel is called OPEC, and they made a decision yesterday that they were not going to increase beyond what they were already planning.”

Republicans have faulted Biden for a flurry of executive orders that he issued after taking office, including shutting down the Keystone XL Pipeline, suspending oil drilling leases, and other measures.