THE IMPORTANCE OF ENERGY INDEPENDENCE
Energy independence is very important for many reasons. A country that must buy or beg for oil, natural gas or any other source of energy will always be in a compromised position in the world order. To be energy independent gives a country the power to make decisions that not only affect the independent county, but also affect the rest of the world. Like it or not, the United States is the broker to maintain the balance of power in the world.
Without energy independence, it would be difficult for the United States to be able to maintain the balance of power. Countries who do have energy independence and the revenue from this resource can make aggressive territorial moves that endanger the rest of the world.
One need only look at the events of the last several years where Iran has been flush with cash from the Chinese buying their oil. Iran can support their proxies around the world to achieve its harmful objectives. If the US utilized the tremendous energy resources that exist, natural gas could be exported around the world and blunt the economic power of Iran.
We live in a highly industrialized world. Industry today does not connote the same meaning today as it did one hundred years ago. With the advent of artificial intelligence, the necessity for vast amounts of energy can hardly be imagined. Other inventions are on the horizon. They will also probably require enormous amounts of energy. Population is growing. More people die of the cold than the heat. The requirement for adequate heating will only increase as the population increases.
The necessity for energy is also great to power factories. In the twenty-first century, new factories will be able to be built if there is enough energy to supply them. Factories supply products and jobs. A country that is energy independent can support factories. A country with a high unemployment rate is in a dangerous state of instability. We can see a preview of national instability, caused by high unemployment, when we look south of our border. Producing a surplus of energy is likely to foster prosperity to our citizens.
High energy prices cause inflation. When home heating is affected home owners might need to choose between heat or food. When factories pay
more for energy, the products they produce cost more. When ships and trucks pay more for fuel, we, the consumer pay more for the products they carry. To be energy independent is to more accurately predict the state of the economy. Prosperity is more likely when reliable and economic energy access is independent of OPEC. Energy independence offers freedom. It is possible to be responsible stewards of the environment and take advantage of the gift that exists underground.