Since months, the Biden administration pledged to take every possible step to lower rising energy prices. This has led to an increase in inflation. But the White House doesn’t have many options.

CNBC was told by the Energy Department that there are no immediate plans to limit exports of energy outside the United States or tap into reserves. These are just two options the executive could use to pull market levers.

Officials from the Administration have privately suggested that an increase in oil reserves would not have any significant impact and that export restrictions would only anger allies and violate long-term contracts. 

Retail gas prices – averaging $3.38 per gallon on Oct. 25 – have risen roughly 50% in 2021, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Due to an increase in demand following the pandemic lows, prices at the pump have risen 70% as global oil costs surge 70%.

The global supply is constrained as well, as the U.S. has a lower production level than before the pandemic and OPEC (and its allies) keep the market off their radar.

Although the White House acknowledged that it does not have many options, Jen Psaki, White House press secretary, stated to reporters that there are limits to the actions of any president in relation to gas prices. 

According to the White House, the Federal Trade Commission was directed to look into price manipulation and the National Security Council to press OPEC+ member countries to boost their production.

Oil prices result from market forces, supply and demand. Domestic energy advocates claim that the White House’s environmental policies have helped to reduce the amount of natural gas and oil entering the market. 

The Keystone Pipeline permit was cancelled by President Joe Biden at the beginning of this year. Drilling activity in federal waters and land areas was also halted. The drilling ban was overturned by a judge and the Biden administration was ordered to resume leasing activities. This decision is being appealed by the administration.

Federal government land will be leased again for oil and natural gas drilling in the next year. The Bureau of Land Management has cancelled the planned quarterly lease auctions scheduled for 2021, as a result of an executive order by the White House requiring a thorough review of the program.

This year the Bureau of Ocean Management leases water in the Gulf of Mexico. The sale was rescheduled following the injunction by the federal judge.

Louisiana is among 13 states producing energy that have sued the government over its drilling ban. The White House must “take the handcuffs off the energy producers,” says Liz Murrill, State Solicitor General.   

Murrill said that “I do not believe that an administration can create problems, then declare an emergency arising out of the problem it created.” Murrill spoke to CNBC.  Murrill stated that it is not an emergency. “That’s a problem you made yourself.”

Inflation is threatening America’s economic recovery heading into 2022, when it comes to price increases across a range of goods. 

The rise in prices is being blamed by voters more often than ever: 66% respondents to an early October survey conducted by CBS NewsSixty percent of respondents blamed the U.S. government for inflation, while 60% stated that the administration doesn’t pay enough attention to the matter. 

Stephen Myrow is a managing partner at Beacon Policy Advisors, and an ex-Treasury official. “At the exact same time,” [Biden]Prioritized clean energy and climate change, but there is always conflict.” 

As the United Nations’ climate summit begins in Glasgow, Scotland (November 1), the conflicts are intensifying. To protect America’s prestige, Biden said that he should present to Congress a billion-dollar climate policy framework to help him.  

Pippa Stephens and Patrick Manning from CNBC contributed to this article.