U.S. Presidents since the 1960s have recognized a problem with dependence on foreign oil to power American innovation. Each of the last eight U.S. presidents has pledged to help this unsustainable situation. And each of the last eight U.S. presidents has failed. Financier Mike Milken presented the following information at a recent global conference on America’s energy future:
* In 1974 with 36.1 percent of oil from foreign sources, President Richard Nixon said, “At the end of this decade, in the year 1980, the United States will not be dependent on any other country for the energy we need.”
* In 1975 with 36.1 percent of oil from foreign sources, President Gerald Ford said, “We must reduce oil imports by one million barrels per day by the end of this year and by two million barrels per day by the end of 1977.”
* In 1979 with 40.5 percent of oil from foreign sources, President Jimmy Carter said, “Beginning this moment, this nation will never use more foreign oil than we did in 1977 – never.”
* In 1981 with 43.6 percent of oil from foreign sources, President Ronald Reagan said, “While conservation is worthy in itself, the best answer is to try to make us independent of outside sources to the greatest extent possible for our energy.”
* In 1992 with 47.2 percent of oil from foreign sources, President George Bush said, “When our administration developed our national energy strategy, three principles guided our policy: reducing our dependence on foreign oil…”
* In 1995 with 49.8 percent of oil from foreign sources, President Bill Clinton said, “The nation’s growing reliance on imports of oil…threatens the nation’s security…[we] will continue efforts to…enhance domestic energy production.”
* In 2006 with 65.5 percent of oil from foreign sources, President George W. Bush said, “Breakthroughs…will help us reach another great goal: to replace more than 75 percent of our oil imports from the Middle East by 2025.”
* In 2009 with 66.2 percent of oil from foreign sources, President Barack Obama said, “It will be the policy of my administration to reverse our dependence on foreign oil while building a new energy economy that will create millions of jobs.”
Yes, foreign oil imports have almost doubled as each president over the last forty years has pledged to shrink the amounts used. One problem is that there has not been a big focus on energy conservation, energy efficiency, or renewable energy until recently. Increased domestic oil drilling and increased reliance onsupposedly clean coal are not the solutions to America’s energy crisis.
Clearly more people need to get on the green power bandwagon. Many individuals, businesses, and states across America are getting serious about America’s energy future. Colorado is a leader in green electricity. Colorado’s success in harnessing wind power and solar power, combined with their high potential for geothermal power, puts the state on track to get 30 percent of its power from renewable sources by 2020.
Vermont is another state focusing on green electricity development. But until the U.S. has a more unified push for conservation, efficiency, and green energy, the problem of reliance on foreign oil, and fossil fuels in general, is not going to change.
Photo via thinkpanama