Solutions From the Past & Present
America's dependence on oil has been a hundred years in the making. Achieving energy independence won't happen overnight. But we need to start now. The longer we delay, the greater the harm.
If we start today, we can make oil an obsolete energy resource within our lifetime. This will be America's greatest challenge. But when we succeed, U.S. foreign policy will never again be dictated by oil, and the fight against global warming will be greatly advanced. With existing technologies and future investments, we can end our dependence on oil.
Energy Independence is not only necessary, it is possible
Our Cars Hold the Key
The most important step is to make our cars and trucks more fuel efficient. Transportation accounts for nearly 70% of all of our oil consumption. But automakers continue to build gas-guzzlers that increase America's dependence on oil.
Transportation is responsible for 68% of our oil consumption
Not only do we have the technology to make are our cars more efficient,but we've already done it before. Between 1977-85, when the U.S. last implemented strong fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks, U.S. oil consumption dropped by 17% while imports dropped by 50%.
U.S. oil consumption (1973-2004)
Today we can do much more.
Using current technologies such as gas-electric hybrids, the U.S. could increase
fuel efficiency of cars and light trucks to 45 mpg within 10 years and to
55 mpg by 2025. This would save us nearly 6 million barrels of oil each day
by 2030. This is nearly a third of our total consumption today.
Oil savings from increased fuel efficiency
By investing in biofuels, such as ethanol made from switchgrass and other efficient plants, the U.S. could replace oil and use home-grown fuel instead. By 2050, biofuels could replace the equivalent of nearly 8 million barrels of oil per day, significantly reducing our dependence on oil.
Using America's technological know-how, there is no doubt that we can Break Free and End Our Dependence on Oil.
Photo Credit: DOE/NREL
