Columbia International Affairs Online: Working Papers

CIAO DATE: 02/2013

The Myth or Reality of US Energy Independence

Anthony H. Cordesman

January 2013

Center for Strategic and International Studies

Abstract

US “independence” from energy imports has been a key source of political dispute ever since the October War in 1973 and the Arab oil embargo that followed. Much of this debate has ignored or misstated the nature of the data available on what the US options are, as well as the uncertainties involved in making any long range projections. This situation has become more critical during the last year as it becomes increasingly apparent that the US has far more commercially exploitable oil and gas reserves than most previous estimates have indicated. Some estimates go so far as to project the US could actually become an energy exporter in the future.