Since the days of Richard were given to all three major un-Nixon, U.S.presidentshave tapped sources of oil pushed by
called for energy indepen- U.S. oil companies—the outer con-dence—even as their coun- tinental shelf, oil shale production
try’s appetite for foreign sources of in the U.S. West, and Alaska’s Arc-oil has continued to grow. Today the tic National Wildlife Refuge—
de-U.S. consumes almost a quarter of pendence on foreign sources of oil
global oil supplies, with little sign would continue.
of a cutback in consumption, which According to the American Petro-will likely consign President Ba- leum Institute, this would only lift
rack Obama’s $150 billion campaign U.S. crude production by as much
pledge to achieve full energy self- as 2 million barrels per day (b/d)—
sufficiency within ten years to the or one-fifth of current imports—by
same fate as his predecessors. 2030. At the same time, the U.S. En-
Although the new president’s se- ergy Information Administration
rious intentions are clear—he has (EIA) recently forecast that the coun-already underscored his pledge to try’s oil demand will remain steady
look for “green” energy alternatives at around 20 million to 21 million
and put America at the forefront of barrels per day over the next two
the effort to tackle global warming decades. Thus, even as domestic oil
by choosing renowned scientist Ste- production grows, the EIA says, the
ven Chu as his energy secretary— U.S. will only be able to cut its de-his ability to implement many of pendence on imported oil from 58
his promises will be constrained percent in 2007 to 40 percent, or
both by the economic crisis and by around 8 million b/d, in 2030.
lower oil prices. With their atten- The newadministration in Wash-tion focused on jobs, energy reform ington should face up to a key fact:
has slipped in the priorities of many oil imports will remain a substantial
voters and policymakers. part of the U.S. energy mix for the
Opening up more U. S. reserves foreseeable future. And that should
to oil drilling, a tendentious issue help us focus on finding safe and re-during the campaign, would offer liable sources of supply in our own
little help. Even if the green light hemisphere.
