Republican leaders in the Senate and House have initiated a joint investigation into the International Energy Agency (IEA), a prominent organization influencing major global decarbonization policies. In a recent letter to IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee ranking member John Barrasso and House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers expressed concerns that the IEA has deviated from its core mission of promoting energy security.
The lawmakers criticized the IEA for allegedly discouraging adequate investment in energy supplies and providing biased assessments of energy and climate proposals. They accused the IEA of transitioning into an 'energy transition cheerleader' rather than maintaining impartiality in its energy modeling.
The Biden administration's reliance on IEA forecasts to justify decisions, such as pausing new liquefied natural gas export projects, was highlighted as a point of contention. The GOP lawmakers criticized the administration for basing its actions on what they deemed as unrealistic IEA modeling.
Founded in 1974 during the global oil crisis, the IEA aimed to coordinate international responses to oil supply disruptions. However, recent criticisms from Republicans have centered on the IEA's shift towards prioritizing decarbonization policies and building net-zero emissions energy systems to align with climate goals.
The IEA's publication of a Net Zero Roadmap report in 2021 was described as lacking substance by the GOP leaders, who emphasized the need for more practical insights for policymakers.
Despite the criticism, the U.S. Department of Energy recognizes the IEA as a key partner for policy analysis and energy security cooperation. Several senior DOE staff members also represent the U.S. on various IEA committees.
Barrasso and McMorris Rodgers concluded their letter by posing a series of questions to Birol regarding the IEA's activities and energy research. The IEA has yet to respond to the request for comment on the matter.
