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Monday, March 2, 2009 - 12:57pmSanction this postReply
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Here is graph showing the percentage dependence on foreign oil over time. A graph of the amount would be a little more upward sloping.

In 2007 the U.S.A.'s crude oil consumption was 20.7 million barrels per day or 7.5555 billion barrels for the year. The joke says the Department of Energy's budget is $24.2 billion for one year.
$24.2/7.555 = $3.20 per barrel, compared to the current barrel price of around $40.


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Monday, March 2, 2009 - 6:10pmSanction this postReply
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"Energy independence" is not in the original House or Senate bills.

H.R.4466
Title: A bill to establish a Department of Energy in the executive branch by the reorganization of energy functions within the Federal Government in order to secure effective management, to assure a coordinated National energy policy.
Sponsor: Rep Anderson, John B. [IL-16] (introduced 3/3/1977)      Cosponsors (2)
Related Bills: S.826
Latest Major Action: 3/3/1977 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to House Committee on Government Operations.


This Time magazine story from September 1974 is almost hilarious in its "state of fear" projections.

"Participants in the New York conference estimated that a full-scale effort to spur development of alternate sources of energy, such as nuclear power and oil from shale, and reduce energy demand could cost an astounding $500 billion to $1 trillion over the next ten years. The money would be spent on federal outlays for research and development, subsidies to energy producers and the building of storage tanks to stockpile oil and natural gas. But the dangers of not proceeding are also high. Though U.S. energy supplies and demand are temporarily in balance, Sawhill warned last week that a shortage of natural gas in the Northeast next winter might well force some factories to shut down."

However, "energy independence" remains in the popular mind, as this Wired feature shows.  Apparently, it was President Nixon who promised "energy independence" by 1980. 
Aug. 4, 1977: All U.S. Energy Placed Under Single Roof
By Tony Long  08.04.08
The 1973 energy crisis changed everything. It was triggered when Arab member nations of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries imposed an oil embargo against all western countries supporting Israel during the Yom Kippur War. The embargo resulted in an immediate jump in oil prices (to $12 a barrel!), widespread gasoline rationing and the imposition of a 55 mph maximum speed limit. And it exposed America's energy dependencies and weaknesses.
The Nixon administration responded with Project Independence and the creation of the Federal Energy Office, the former intended to give the United States total energy independence by 1980 and the latter to manage a national energy policy. The energy program grew incrementally under the Nixon and Ford administrations, but remained diffuse.
http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2008/08/dayintech_0804

This Reason magazine story from 2004 also tells the tale. 


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