(DCNF)—Now that the oil and gas industry is no longer constrained by former President Joe Biden’s regulatory regime, the market is poised to meet surging energy demand and help America win the artificial intelligence (AI) race, American Petroleum Institute (API) President and CEO Mike Sommers told the Daily Caller News Foundation.
While Biden cracked down on the oil and gas industry, President Donald Trump has championed it, as the energy resources are dependable and well-suited to meet America’s growing energy needs. Sommers has seen the impact of both Trump and Biden’s regulatory approaches on the industry, and he told the DNCF that outpacing China in AI and addressing the domestic energy emergency will ultimately only be possible through additional permitting reform and legislation.
“If we’re going to end the war with China for artificial intelligence, we’re going to need every bit of energy that we can produce here in the United States,” Sommers said. “President Biden focused on stopping the development of both oil and gas, doing everything he could to prevent the proliferation of oil and gas development in the United States. So, we welcome President Trump’s focus on finding these resources and using them to the advantage of the American economy.”
Sommers will join Trump, some other cabinet officials and a few Congressional members, as well as other energy and AI leaders, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday to discuss energy technology innovation. Notably, Trump and Republican Pennsylvania Sen. Dave McCormick reportedly plan to announce about $70 billion in energy and AI investments at the summit, according to Axios.
The explosion in AI investment will likely require a dramatic uptick in power generation, so unleashing natural gas will be key to meeting America’s coming power needs, Sommers argued. Though national energy demand was static for decades, power demand is projected to surge by as much as 25% by 2030, according to Sommers and a recent ICF International report.
“Natural gas is going to be the real fuel of the future,” Sommers told the DCNF, arguing that the fuel source is ready and available to support power-hungry AI data centers.
Permitting reform and legislative assurance are still needed to allow the oil and gas industry to thrive, as Biden hampered the technology with stringent regulations, Sommers argued. While the One Big Beautiful Bill Act carved out some “game-changing” energy provisions, additional legislation is needed to “build on the promises made” within the bill, Sommers said.
“What [the bill] didn’t address was how we get the infrastructure permitted to move the energy from where it is to where it needs to be,” Sommers said. “What’s going to be required is permitting reform that allows us to build the pipelines and transmission lines to power that energy future.”
rThe major policy shifts under the new administration have given energy companies “whiplash,” Sommers said, as companies have had to pivot from dealing with Biden’s restrictive approach to oil to the environment created by the Trump administration, which has championed the industry.
“It was as if at every single turn, President Biden was trying to stand in the way of American energy development,” Sommers said.
Oil and gas prices have dropped as Trump’s pro-energy policies signal future industry growth, though prices dropping too low could disincentivize investment by oil and gas companies. Trump would like to drive energy prices down, preferring oil costs to be between $40-50. Sommers mentioned that “we need to make sure that American producers have a price that makes sense for them to continue to develop these resources,” though a sustainable oil or gas price would depend on the energy company.
Oil prices are just under $70 a barrel as of Monday evening, and they were above $70 a barrel when the Israel-Iran war broke out in the Middle East in June. The answer to cheaper oil and gas lies in policies that allow energy companies to freely develop these abundant resources, Sommers said.
“The more that we can develop on federal lands and on federal waters, [the more we are] … going to continue to keep prices low for American consumers,” Sommers said.
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Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.
