Kevin Stocklin

‘U.S. companies will not commit serious capital to Venezuela without a credible reset on the rule of law,’ said Jason Isaac, CEO of American Energy Institute.

‘We have a recognition that we haven’t built anything in a long time, and we’ve lost the muscle capacity,’ energy economist Trisha Curtis says.

With 131 refineries currently in operation, the United States has long been the global leader in oil processing capacity, but has lost ground because of a combination of an aging infrastructure and constricting regulations, including new laws in California that caused a major refinery to close. That is changing under the Trump administration, industry experts say.

‘There is a strategic shift toward a more resilient Western Hemisphere energy bloc,’ economist Steve Hanke stated.

More than 30 municipal climate lawsuits seek to set U.S. energy policy through litigation, critics say.

‘The conflict is coming at nearly the worst possible time, the spring planting season,’ economist Peter Earle said.

Advocates of blue-state taxes on millionaires and billionaires say they’re targeting the wealthy, but experts say the taxes will expand to hit more Americans.

‘Housing is becoming more affordable; however, it’s not affordable in absolute terms,’ analyst Stephen Kates said.

‘The fatal policy error going back four or five years is still a legacy that we’re dealing with,’ Fed Chair Kevin Warsh stated.

Climate litigation is having a difficult month.