IT’S A BAD IDEA, AND IT’S GOOD TO SEE THE ADMINISTRATION GET OUT IN FRONT OF THE RUMORS ABOUT IT: US Energy Secretary Wright says diesel export ban won’t work.

“The blunt tool of banning diesel exports definitely doesn’t work,” Wright said at an event hosted by the Economist in New York.

Average US diesel prices were $6.52 a gallon on Wednesday, up ​76% from a year ago, according to AAA, a motorist advocacy group.

“If you can’t export the diesel that comes out of our refineries, you run out ​of places to store it, and you have to reduce US refining, which would put upward pressure on gasoline prices and jet ⁠fuel prices,”

Wright said. The Trump administration is open to any ideas on lowering fuel prices and will make policy announcements in coming days, he said.

A crash program to build new refineries or reopen old ones would be nice.