Bert Swope
Many individuals desire increased energy independence to enhance security, address climate change, and decrease air pollution. Sustainable reductions of oil usage can be accomplished through fuel efficiency programs and alternatively fueled vehicles.
An effective oil price would provide crucial economic stabilization benefits by mitigating boom-bust cycles. Furthermore, such stability would lower risks related to future capital investments by decreasing price volatility.
Why We Must Reduce Our Oil Consumption and Dependence
Politicians have pledged for years to make America “energy independent,” according to Merriam-Webster’s definition: not being subjected to external control by others. Yet most Americans care far less about where their oil supply originates than its price.
We must implement policies limiting demand to reduce America’s reliance on foreign oil. These include mandating strong car fuel economy standards and encouraging electric vehicle adoption. Furthermore, strict building standards must be set when new homes are constructed while energy use in existing structures is reduced. These steps will have significant climate-friendly benefits and could decrease oil use by up to 2.7 million barrels daily!
We must support domestic oil production by eliminating financial, technical, or regulatory obstacles to development on federal lands. For instance, lifting offshore drilling bans and permitting states to develop energy resources on their own land are key parts of this goal; I co-sponsored several bills designed to achieve these ends – such as the Expanding American Energy Act and Federal Land Freedom Act.
Deprive Countries That Are Anathema American Economics
The 1973 oil embargo that followed Syria and Egypt’s attack on Israel created havoc for economic prosperity. Hour-long lines formed to obtain gasoline. US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger initiated shuttle diplomacy as a response, hoping that eventually ending this conflict would prove successful.
America attempted to lessen its dependence on foreign oil with gas rationing, price controls, and fuel blended with ethanol, but these efforts did not achieve energy independence.
Even if the United States were to cease imports of petroleum, its energy needs would still require other foreign sources – natural gas and nuclear power, among others – which also require importation. Furthermore, the import of uranium would still be necessary.
Removing America from global markets for essential minerals would only increase its vulnerability to economically damaging price volatility while cutting ties with energy markets is equally problematic; only an all-out shift away from fossil fuels toward renewables, natural gas, or nuclear could give this nation real energy independence; unfortunately, no one seems willing to invest in such solutions while we continue our reliance on foreign oil imports.
Reduce Other Countries’ Influence on American Foreign Policy
The United States’ dependence on foreign oil makes it an easy target for political interference in the Middle East. Proponents of energy independence contend that decreasing US reliance on foreign oil would diminish other countries’ influence over American policymaking, thus diminishing United States involvement and potentially decreasing terrorism abroad.
After British and French attempts to exclude American oil companies from the Middle Eastern regions they controlled, the United States began active oil diplomacy to restore access. Under this plan, the Roosevelt Doctrine is promoted, which mandates US companies be granted concessions where other companies cannot get in. Furthermore, American oil companies started seeking concessions in Latin America.
Due to this policy, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was formed to protect prices and insulate consumers against sudden price spikes caused by geopolitical turmoil worldwide. Unfortunately, even after taking these precautions, the United States remains dependent on other nations for oil supply, leaving them susceptible to political or military instability that might impact its supply.
Reduce Economic Vulnerability
Politicians have long spoken of energy independence – producing enough fuel domestically to avoid depending on foreign sources to fill our gas tanks and keep our lights lit – as an ambitious political goal. This goal seems more achievable today than ever, thanks to technological breakthroughs that have unlocked vast reserves of “tight oil” trapped within shale rock formations.
There is widespread agreement that economic development influences a country’s vulnerability to disasters and emergencies, while increasing awareness highlights economic resilience as an essential element in the risk equation.
This paper employs a methodology involving reviewing scientific literature, conducting expert panel sessions, and weighing socio-economic vulnerability indicators using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP). Once constructed, these indicators were tested for their ability to reduce COVID-19 cases and severity in Yazd city; their effectiveness can then be assessed through an impact evaluation model. Results show that socio-economic vulnerability indicators developed using AHP are effective at decreasing cases and increasing resilience during disasters or emergencies.
Grow The American Economy
Energy independence can provide significant economic gains and job creation. Advocates claim it will reduce dependence on unstable regions for oil supplies, reduce price spikes caused by terrorist attacks, wars, labor disputes, natural disasters, political unrest in oil-producing nations, or speculation on global markets, and help balance trade deficits.
Increased energy production would benefit car commuters, freight haulers, airlines, and manufacturing sectors – the primary oil consumers. Lower oil prices mean cheaper gasoline, airline tickets, industrial chemicals, and raw materials made possible from petroleum sources.
Attaining energy independence would not free the US completely from foreign imports of key raw materials and fuels; manufacturing-intensive economies rely heavily on global supply chains; 85-89% of all oil reserves exist in just 10 countries alone – trying to cut off access will only increase domestic energy prices when disruptions occur.
Energy Security
Security of access to energy has an effect and sustainable impact on providing humans with their basic needs while contributing to economic development, political stability, and overall development and security. A country’s energy security may depend on a range of factors – energy supply and consumption patterns within domestic production, renewable energies such as solar or wind power, and conservation practices.
Energy independence has long been a goal of US politicians and the public alike, driven by fears over Arab oil embargoes and by wanting to protect citizens from volatile international oil markets.
Energy independence can be hard to define precisely but generally refers to a point at which the United States exports more energy products than it imports from outside sources. While domestic energy production has seen remarkable increases over the years, we have yet to reach this milestone due to global markets for energy being interdependent – any decrease or increase in supply or demand anywhere can have far-reaching ramifications and cause price spikes worldwide.
Grow Use of Renewable Energy Sources
Reaching energy independence requires expanding our use of alternative forms of power, including renewable energy sources that don’t pollute. Renewables are experiencing exponential growth worldwide thanks to economic incentives, higher fossil fuel costs, and new technologies being made available.
There are numerous definitions for what constitutes “energy independence.” Still, one commonly accepted metric is when a country can produce as much energy as it consumes – an impressive achievement, yet even by this standard, the United States remains not energy independent as some energy must still be imported.
Becoming energy independent would reduce US dependence on foreign nations and their political instability as well as fluctuating global energy prices, but doing so will require significant time and investment. Shifting fossil fuel subsidies into renewables is estimated to cost $4 trillion between now and 2030; nonetheless, its costs would more than justify themselves through enhanced economic growth, job creation, more equitable development, and climate protection.
Reduce Vulnerability to Price Fluctuations
Energy Independence’s main aim is to lessen reliance on foreign oil while increasing domestic production and decreasing fossil fuel use. Energy independence advocates insist that the United States must explore untapped domestic oil reserves such as those located offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. At the same time, they also advocate removing restrictions on oil exploration in Canada and Mexico to achieve North American energy independence.
Energy independence reduces dependency and can preserve natural resources and improve climate conditions. By cutting emissions of harmful gases that contribute to global warming and other environmental concerns, achieving energy independence could be crucial in protecting natural resources while improving climate conditions.
Most of the world’s oil supplies are located in unstable regions susceptible to geopolitics; no matter whether or not the United States achieves energy independence, its economy will still be affected by events in the Middle East and elsewhere across the globe.