拜登的能源战略沉默：选情升温中的一场赌博

尽管民调显示拜登总统在即将到来的选举中很脆弱，但他对国内能源产量的大幅增长保持沉默。虽然他的沉默避免了疏远民主党联盟内的环保人士，但也阻碍了解决天然气和能源价格上涨问题的努力，随着夏季的临近，天然气和能源价格可能会加剧。拜登的能源记录，包括增加产量，但也限制石油和天然气租赁，凸显了政府的“上述所有”政策，让清洁能源倡议的支持者和反对者都感到沮丧。

Biden's Strategic Silence: A Gambit in the Energy Battlefield

拜登的战略沉默：能源战场的一招

In a peculiar twist, President Joe Biden has opted to downplay one of his potential electoral strengths: the surge in domestic energy production under his administration. This enigmatic approach belies deep fissures within the Democratic coalition, where climate change reigns supreme and renewable energy, not fossil fuels, is the preferred narrative.

一个奇怪的转折是，总统乔·拜登选择淡化他的潜在选举优势之一：在他的政府领导下国内能源生产的激增。这种神秘的做法掩盖了民主党联盟内部的深刻裂痕，其中气候变化占据主导地位，可再生能源而不是化石燃料是首选的叙述方式。

Biden's silence on his administration's energy record is also a tacit concession to Republicans, who have relentlessly branded him as an energy-sapping figure, not just as a "well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory," but as a leader actively decimating the nation's energy production.

拜登对其政府的能源记录保持沉默也是对共和党人的默认让步，共和党人无情地将他称为消耗能源的人物，不仅是“善意的记忆力差的老人”，而且是一位积极摧毁能源的领导人。国家的能源生产。

Summer's arrival will force Biden to confront his energy quandary. Despite his efforts to convey a positive economic picture, marked by declining crime and a burgeoning economy, persistent inflation looms, threatening to overshadow any progress made. As travelers prepare to hit the road, gas prices are poised to spike once again, adding fuel to the inflation fire. Overall, gas prices have surged by approximately 48% since Biden took office in January 2021.

夏季的到来将迫使拜登面临能源困境。尽管他努力传达积极的经济前景，以犯罪率下降和经济蓬勃发展为标志，但持续的通货膨胀若隐若现，有可能掩盖所取得的任何进展。当旅客准备上路时，汽油价格可能会再次飙升，从而加剧通货膨胀。总体而言，自 2021 年 1 月拜登上任以来，天然气价格已飙升约 48%。

Other energy costs have also skyrocketed, including electricity and piped gas, even amidst record oil and gas production and exports. This paradox presents a dilemma for both Biden and the Republicans.

即使石油和天然气生产和出口创纪录，其他能源成本也飙升，包括电力和管道天然气。这一悖论给拜登和共和党带来了两难的境地。

Mutual Benefits of Energy Silence

能源沉默的互惠互利

Biden is reluctant to trumpet record-breaking liquefied natural gas production and exports, while Republicans are equally loathe to acknowledge it, lest they inadvertently hand Biden a talking point. This tacit agreement stems from a desire to avoid alienating green voters and potentially tarnishing Biden's climate-friendly image.

拜登不愿意宣扬破纪录的液化天然气产量和出口，而共和党人同样不愿意承认这一点，以免无意中给拜登提供了一个话题。这种默契源于避免疏远绿色选民并可能损害拜登气候友好形象的愿望。

Moreover, Biden may be reticent to highlight energy production because the recent surge is not entirely attributable to his policies. While he has focused on scaling back exploration and imposing restrictions on oil and gas leases, the Trump administration enthusiastically encouraged drilling and exploration.

此外，拜登可能不愿强调能源生产，因为最近的能源生产激增并不完全归因于他的政策。尽管特朗普政府专注于缩减勘探规模并对石油和天然气租赁施加限制，但他仍热情鼓励钻探和勘探。

"Energy production is a latency issue," explains Paige Lambermont, research fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. "The regulations we make today, or last year, don't largely affect the production we see right now."

“能源生产是一个延迟问题，”竞争企业研究所研究员 Paige Lambermont 解释道。 “我们今天或去年制定的法规不会对我们现在看到的生产产生很大影响。”

"We're not seeing approvals under Joe Biden delivering gas and oil, largely," she continues. "We're seeing previous-era investment."

“我们基本上没有看到乔·拜登领导下批准交付天然气和石油，”她继续说道。 “我们看到了前时代的投资。”

Nevertheless, Biden has poured billions into transitioning the country to green energy, promising to spend even more on developing renewable sources.

尽管如此，拜登还是投入了数十亿美元来推动国家向绿色能源转型，并承诺将在开发可再生能源方面投入更多资金。

Green Spending Frenzy

绿色消费狂潮

The Inflation Reduction Act, enacted in 2022, earmarked $369 billion for clean energy initiatives, a figure that has since ballooned. During its first year, the Biden administration invested $110 billion in wind and solar manufacturing and allocated $12.5 billion to extend and expand the electric vehicle tax credit program.

2022 年颁布的《通货膨胀削减法案》指定了 3,690 亿美元用于清洁能源计划，此后这一数字不断膨胀。拜登政府在第一年就向风能和太阳能制造业投资了 1100 亿美元，并拨款 125 亿美元用于延长和扩大电动汽车税收抵免计划。

Biden's latest budget request proposes $51 billion for the Department of Energy, encompassing funds for clean energy jobs, international climate finance, and the deployment of clean energy on federal lands.

拜登最新的预算请求提议为能源部提供 510 亿美元，包括用于清洁能源工作、国际气候融资以及在联邦土地上部署清洁能源的资金。

Alongside these substantial investments, Biden has implemented a raft of restrictions. Soon after taking office, he imposed a moratorium on oil and gas leases and recently suspended liquefied natural gas exports, a move that alarmed European allies.

除了这些大量投资之外，拜登还实施了一系列限制措施。上任后不久，他暂停了石油和天然气租赁，最近还暂停了液化天然气出口，此举令欧洲盟友感到震惊。

"Along with energy production and energy prices, the reliable delivery of energy is crucial," emphasizes Lambermont. "Pipeline approvals are paramount to ensuring that the continued movement of energy meets the country's needs, including maintaining sufficient natural gas for the electric grid and keeping oil flowing."

“除了能源生产和能源价格之外，可靠的能源输送也至关重要，”兰伯蒙特强调说。 “管道审批对于确保能源的持续流动满足国家的需求至关重要，包括为电网维持足够的天然气并保持石油流动。”

All of the Above Conundrum

所有上述难题

Biden's mixed messaging on energy production has led to an "all of the above" approach that has frustrated all sides. While he seeks to balance the need for energy security with climate goals, he has fallen short of satisfying either constituency.

拜登在能源生产方面的混合信息导致了“上述所有”的做法，令各方感到沮丧。虽然他寻求平衡能源安全的需要和气候目标，但他未能满足任何一个选民的要求。

"We are an 'all of the above' country in many ways," remarks Senator John Hickenlooper (D-CO). "But is that sufficient? Ultimately, we need to determine how we transition to a clean energy future."

“在很多方面，我们都是一个‘以上所有’的国家，”参议员约翰·希肯卢珀 (D-CO) 说道。 “但这足够了吗？最终，我们需要确定如何过渡到清洁能源的未来。”

Biden's reluctance to discuss energy production has drawn criticism from Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), a frequent adversary on energy issues. West Virginia heavily relies on coal production, which Democrats are eager to phase out. Manchin has sarcastically praised Biden's all-of-the-above strategy, urging him to amplify its messaging.

拜登不愿讨论能源生产，引起了西弗吉尼亚州民主党参议员乔·曼钦(Joe Manchin)的批评，他是能源问题上的常见对手。西弗吉尼亚州严重依赖煤炭生产，民主党人渴望逐步淘汰煤炭生产。曼钦讽刺地赞扬了拜登的上述所有策略，敦促他放大其信息。

"You won't hear about our historic energy production on TV, on social media, at Democratic campaign events — or from many administration aides," he wrote in an op-ed. "As a result of these bills, there has never been a better time to invest in American energy."

他在一篇专栏文章中写道：“你不会在电视、社交媒体、民主党竞选活动中或从许多政府助手那里听到我们历史性的能源生产。” “由于这些法案的实施，现在是投资美国能源的最佳时机。”

Election-Year Quandary

选举年的困境

As the November election draws near, Biden will face mounting pressure to explain why energy prices continue to escalate despite abundant production. Whether he chooses to force companies to further deplete reserves or hinder the construction of new pipelines and transportation infrastructure, prices are likely to maintain their upward trajectory.

随着 11 月大选的临近，拜登将面临越来越大的压力，需要解释为什么尽管产量充足，但能源价格仍持续上涨。无论他选择迫使企业进一步耗尽储备，还是阻碍新管道和运输基础设施的建设，价格都可能保持上涨趋势。

"Biden's dilemma is that he wants to claim credit for any economic improvements while simultaneously pursuing transformative change in the name of climate change," says Lambermont. "He doesn't want to acknowledge high energy production now because it conflicts with his desired narrative."

兰伯蒙特说：“拜登的困境在于，他希望将任何经济改善归功于他，同时以气候变化的名义追求变革。” “他现在不想承认高能源产量，因为这与他想要的叙述相冲突。”

Biden's energy strategy has become a complex balancing act, with potential electoral consequences. By neglecting his administration's energy accomplishments, he risks alienating voters concerned about energy security and rising costs. Yet, by embracing his climate-friendly stance, he risks further alienating those who favor domestic energy production. The upcoming election will serve as a referendum on Biden's energy policy and the extent to which he can reconcile these competing priorities.

拜登的能源战略已成为一项复杂的平衡行为，具有潜在的选举后果。由于忽视了他的政府在能源领域取得的成就，他可能会疏远那些担心能源安全和成本上升的选民。然而，通过拥抱气候友好立场，他可能会进一步疏远那些支持国内能源生产的人。即将到来的选举将成为对拜登能源政策以及他能在多大程度上协调这些相互竞争的优先事项的公投。