Global InformationUnited States energy independence information
United States energy independence is the concept of eliminating or substantially reducing import of petroleum to satisfy the nation's need for energy. Some proposals for achieving energy independence would permit imports from the neighboring nations of Canada and Mexico, in which case it would be called North American energy independence. Energy independence is espoused by those who want to leave the US unaffected by global energy supply disruptions and would restrict reliance upon politically unstable states for its energy security.
In total energy consumption, the US produces more energy than it uses.[1] In May 2011, the country became a net exporter of refined petroleum products.[2] By 2014, the United States was the world's third largest producer of crude oil, after Saudi Arabia and Russia,[3] and second-largest exporter of refined products, after Russia.[4] In October 2019, the United States first became a net exporter of all oil products, including both refined petroleum products and crude oil. This was in the week ending October 18. It is important to recognize that during this week of "net exporter of all oil products, including both refined petroleum products and crude oil", "Weekly U.S. Commercial Crude Oil Imports Excluding SPR" were 5,857,000 barrels per day and exports were 3,683,000 barrels per day. In this week of "energy independence", the United States was still importing more crude oil than it was exporting. Weekly Production of Crude Oil for this week totaled 12,600,000 barrels per day. This "energy independence" occurred again during two weeks in December 2019. In 2020, this occurred in 38 weeks. It occurred 11 times in 2021 and it has occurred every week since the week ending March 11, 2022 through week ending May 5, 2023, (the most recent reporting of the EIA) 68 times. During the pandemic, weekly crude oil production dropped to a low of 9,700,000 barrels per day. As of week ending May 5, 2023, crude oil production had returned to pre-pandemic levels of 12,300,000 barrels per day.[5] By 2021 the US was the world's largest producer.[6]
As of March 2015, 85% of crude oil imports came from, in order of decreasing volume, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Venezuela, and Colombia.[7] Nineteen percent of imported oil came from the Middle East.[8] The fraction of crude oil consumed in the US that was imported went from 35% immediately before the 1973 oil crisis, peaked at 60% in 2005, and then returned to 35% by 2013[9] thanks to increased domestic production[10] from the shale oil boom.[11] Beginning in the 1970s, exports of crude oil were illegal without a permit; in 2013, the United States physically exported a relatively small amount of oil, and only to Canada.[12] The ban was repealed in 2015.[13]
Greater energy self-sufficiency, it is claimed, would prevent major supply disruptions like the 1973 oil crisis and the 1979 energy crisis. Proponents argue that the potential for political unrest in major oil suppliers, such as Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, and Nigeria, is abundant, and often causes great fluctuations in crude oil prices, especially in the short term.
Large individual US pipelines and other fuel infrastructure and extraction projects are controversial issues in US politics.
- ^ Energy Information Administration (April 4, 2022). "U.S. Energy Facts Explained". Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^ Energy Information Administration (March 12, 2015). "How much of the oil produced in the United States is consumed in the United States?". Retrieved May 30, 2015.
- ^ CIA. "The World Factbook – COUNTRY COMPARISON :: CRUDE OIL – PRODUCTION". Archived from the original on April 27, 2015. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
- ^ "The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency". www.cia.gov. Archived from the original on April 27, 2015. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
- ^ Energy Information Administration. "4-Week Avg U.S. Net Imports of Crude Oil and Petroleum Products". Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ "International - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)". www.eia.gov. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
- ^ "Petroleum and other Liquids – Company Level Imports". Energy Information Administration. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
- ^ Daniel Yergin. "Energy Independence". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved September 27, 2008.
- ^ Yergin, Daniel. "Congratulations, America. You're (Almost) Energy Independent". POLITICO Magazine. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
- ^ "U.S. Field Production of Crude Oil (Thousand Barrels)". www.eia.gov. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
- ^ "Actual net imports also peaked in 2005, regardless of changes in demand". www.eia.gov.
- ^ "The Case for Allowing U.S. Crude Oil Exports". Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
- ^ "America lifts its ban on oil exports". The Economist. December 18, 2015. Retrieved February 6, 2019.