American Energy Independence

American Energy Independence

 

A powerful idea is spreading through America. It is a call to this generation to take action and decide the course of history by declaring and fighting for American Energy Independence.

Following the 1973 Arab oil embargo, the idea of energy independence captured the imagination of the American people. Then during the 1980's, increased automobile fuel efficiency and new oil discoveries created a surplus of oil on the world market, and America’s enthusiasm for energy independence faded into memory. Now, more than thirty years after the oil embargo, re-awakened by the terrorist attack on 9/11 and war in the Middle East, the idea of American energy independence has returned with a vengeance, becoming a powerful force shaping the political views of a new generation of Americans.

Oil is no longer viewed as just another commodity. In the minds and hearts of the American people, oil has become associated with terrorism, political corruption, corporate greed, and global warming.
The 1973 Arab oil embargo interrupted the flow of oil causing severe gasoline shortages and long lines at gas stations. The embargo exposed America's growing oil dependence and gave the American people their first warning of the price they would pay for continued dependence on imported oil. The 1979 Iranian revolution interrupted the flow of oil again — this was the second warning, signaling the urgent need for American Energy Independence. The 1991 Persian Gulf War was a military intervention to stop one dictator from taking control of Middle East oil — this was the third and most severe warning. Failure to make energy independence the nation’s highest priority after the Gulf War demonstrated that the United States did not have the political will to free itself from dependence on foreign oil.
September 11, 2001 was a preview of America's future – one possible future.
America stands at a crossroad, a choice between two very different futures. One choice leads to increased dependence on foreign oil and a future dominated by terrorism and war. The other choice leads to American energy independence and a world economy that is no longer desperate for oil.
In 1973, Middle East oil producers embargoed shipments to the United States in response to the Yom Kippur War. At the time, the USA imported about 35 percent of its oil. Since then and through six different Presidents, America’s dependency on foreign oil has increased to more than 60 percent.
Today, the world consumes over 80 million barrels of oil every day (over 30 billion barrels per year); the USA alone consumes over 20 million barrels per day (over 7 billion barrels per year). At an average price of $60 per barrel, the global petroleum industry is a 1.8 trillion dollar a year business. Development of alternative energy to free the world from oil will create a seismic shift within the economic foundation of the world.
Energy is not oil. Energy can be taken from other natural resources. Oil is merely a convenient source of energy. With the help of new technology, America’s energy needs can be obtained from sources other than petroleum.
American technology has put a man on the moon, mapped the human genome, and successfully landed robotic exploration vehicles on Mars. It seems reasonable to believe that American scientists and engineers could also develop environmentally safe alternative energy technology that would free America from oil dependence.
Unfortunately, some people want to discourage investment in alternative energy, arguing that oil is cheaper than other sources of energy; therefore, they argue, alternative energy will not be competitive in a free market economy.
When the rules of the free market undermine the security and prosperity of the nation, the American people need to change the rules. A free market is the engine of prosperity and economic growth, but unrestrained greed can hurt people; for example: Enron. Unrestrained greed, dishonest executives, foreign oil monopoly, the added expense of protecting the country from terrorism, and the fact that the Global Economy is far from being a level playing field, all work together to undermine the security and prosperity of America.
In the next twenty years, if American oil dependence is allowed to continue as it has in the past and the price of oil continues to be high as expected, more than Five Trillion Dollars will be transferred from the United States economy to foreign countries in exchange for imported oil. If U.S. oil imports average 12 million barrels per day at $60 per barrel, over the next twenty years, the total amount will be $720,000,000 per day times 365 days equals $263 Billion per year [rounded], times 20 years equals $5,260,000,000,000 which is Five Trillion Two Hundred and Sixty Billion Dollars. If the U.S. fails to curb its oil appetite, imports will grow beyond 12 million barrels per day by the end of twenty years, and shrinking global oil reserves combined with increasing global demand for oil will cause the average price per barrel to exceed $60.
It is time for America to lead the development of new energy technology that will free the world from dependence on oil. Freedom from oil dependence will cut-off the flow of oil money to the Middle East and put an end to the financial support of militant Islam.
The global expansion of militant Islam is financed by Middle East oil wealth. In the U.S. oil means gasoline. Every time you fill your gas tank, some of the money will find its way into the hands of Islamic extremists who are planning the next terrorist attack.
Is there anyone who still cannot see the connection between the flow of oil money into the Middle East and the flow of terrorism out of the Middle East?

“The rise of terrorism by militant Islam against the United States and the West coincided with the rise in oil prices of 1979-80 and the subsequent transfer of hundreds of billions of dollars from the West to Muslim countries.” – Max Singer, senior fellow, The Hudson Institute.