American Oil Dependence Essay -- Economy Economics Oil Essays

American Oil Dependence Since the oil embargo of 1977, there has been an increase awareness of our nations button security. As world(a) population and energy ingestion rise, the need for a stable energy supply has become a hot topic and a politically volatile issue. As our minus trade balance grows larger by the day, the United States finds itself in a rather precarious position. We are becoming more and more dependant on Middle East oil. Indeed, the U.S. Department of cypher (DOE) predicts that domestic rock oil consumption will increase to 60 Btu by the year 2025. This statistic, in and of itself, is a matter of concern with respect to the greenhouse gas emissions that force from petroleum combustion. However, perhaps more disconcerting is the fact that U.S. oil end product peaked in 1970 and has continued to fall since then (Campbell et. al., 1998). Therefore, the American open has turned to foreign oil, in particular Middle Eastern oil, to supplementation its inc rease in demand. In an age where terrorism is at the point of peoples minds, we still continue to import oil from the same nations that supposedly hold up so-called terrorist groups. The fact is that we are unwilling to responsibly face our energy future and instead choose to maintain a policy of change magnitude oil supply through importation. One of the main problems with this strategy is that it is a short-term remedy. Studies conducted by M. King Hubbert in 1956 predicted the rise, peak, and subsequent decline of global oil production. He predicted that global oil production would rise until more or less 2002 and then start declining (Campbell et. al., 1998). If one takes the oil embargo of 1977 into account, effectively diminish the rate... ...to a fuel that, upon exhaustion, will mark our retreat from the global stinting spotlight. Works CitedCampbell, Colin J., Laherrere, Jean H. The End Of Cheap Oil. Scientific American Mar. 1998 78-83.Flo, Gary. chaffer on F ossil Fuel Consumption. 8 Sep. 2003N.A. environmental Advocates Statistics In Hand. 2003 www.geocities.com/rainforest/Canopy/2743Assoc. Press. U.S. Auto Sales Hit 2003 High In July. ground forces Today 1 Aug. 2003 www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2003-07-31-autosales_x.htmMills, Mark. 25 Years After OPECs Embargo. Environmental News Jan. 1999 www.heartland.orgN.A. www.skyaid.org. 2003 www.skyaid.org/skycar/us_auto_statistics.htmStaff Writer. Bureau of Land Management Maximizing Energy Development, Minimizing Environmental Protection. NRDC 7 Aug. 2003 www.nrdc.org/bushrecord/airenergy_publiclands.asp1383