Energy in America

          As renewable energy and stable energy sources become the goal of people and nations worldwide, the United States Department of Energy seeks to ensure America’s security and prosperity by addressing its energy, environmental and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions. Modern American society depends on the availability of abundant energy, and as resources grow limited, the challenge of sustaining America's standard of living and accustomed pattern of life presents itself to policymakers and citizens alike. With 83 percent of the nation's energy coming from coal, oil and natural gas, America continues to search for new and more efficient sources of energy that both increase supplies and reduce pollution.

          Since President Obama took office, America’s dependence on foreign oil has decreased every year. In 2010, the United States imported less than half of all oil consumed – a first in 13 years. In fact, net imports as a share of total consumption declined from 57 percent in 2008 to 45 percent in 2011 – the lowest level in 16 years. In the last year alone, we have cut net oil imports by 10 percent – a million barrels per day. As Steven Chu, the U.S. Secretary of Energy stated,

The most direct way to reduce our dependency on foreign oil is to simply use less of it, starting with the cars and trucks we drive. Nearly 70 percent of our oil use is for transportation, and more than 65 percent of that amount is for personal vehicles . . . . We will continue to need high-energy-density fuels for years to come. But we can develop new liquid biofuels that will be direct replacements for gasoline and diesel fuel. When we have new biofuels that can be blended at any level with gasoline and that are safe for both engines and the environment, the importance of oil as a strategic resource will plummet.

From an economic point of view, Energy Independence means energy security; an objective that can be achieved through the development of alternative transportation fuels and multi-fuel vehicles, which would give consumers an opportunity to choose a non-petroleum fuel at the pump. American Energy Independence will be achieved when all cars, trucks and buses on U.S. highways — boats, ships and barges on U.S. waterways — aircraft flying U.S. airways — trains on U.S. railways — and off-road recreational, construction and farm vehicles, are powered by transportation fuels made in the USA from U.S. resources.

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