U.S. oil addiction a 'national security emergency'

Social justice news
July 2005

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U.S. oil addiction a 'national security emergency

U.S. oil addiction a 'national security emergency
America’s economic dependence on foreign oil is a national security emergency, said Anne Korin, co-chair of the Set America Free Coalition, an organization that brings together several non-profit organizations and individuals who are concerned with the current oil crisis.

“It’s a serious issue, and it needs to be treated with the urgency it deserves,” Korin said. “We rely on politically unstable and sometimes terror-ridden countries to supply us with oil for our transportation sector. We need to cut this dependence and increase our domestic fuel choice.”

According to the Institute for Analysis of Global Security, the United States spends approximately $50 billion per year securing access to oil in the Middle East. When supply cuts and price cuts are factored in, the United States has spent more than $7 trillion dollars over the past 30 years acquiring oil, according to a recent study done by the U.S. Department of Energy. The transfer of wealth to oil-producing countries—an estimated cost of $1.16 trillion over the past thirty years—has substantially increased the U.S. trade deficit. The Department of Energy estimates that each $1 billion of trade deficit costs America 27,000 jobs.

“There are long term implications if we don’t act right away,” Korin said. “We have the right technology available in the United States to develop other means of energy, we just haven’t done anything about it yet.”

Two-thirds of the United States oil consumption is due to the transportation sector, according to the Set America Free website. Therefore, the transportation industry needs to be transformed now in order to resolve this security crisis, Korin said

“The time to act is now, because it takes about 20 to 30 years for technology to really proliferate and be successful. If we sit and wait another 20 or 30 years, it may be too late,” she said.

Set America Free, which was formed in September 2004, estimates that oil consumption should increase by 60 percent over the next 25 years, however the oil supply and reserves are limited. Conservation efforts will not be enough; alternative forms of fuel and energy-efficient transportation need to be promoted and developed, Korin said.

A blueprint produced by Set America free suggests that that other available domestic transportation fuel options, such as non-oil diesel, methanol, ethanol, electricity and other fuel blends, should be developed to reduce dependency on oil. Also, the auto industry should be encouraged to promote more energy-efficient hybrid cars and "plug-in" hybrid electric vehicles. Plug-in hybrids charge overnight and typically can travel 20 miles entirely on electric power; that's enough power coverage for the average daily car usage in the U.S.

“It’s critical for the American public to get involved in this campaign. We have the proper tools, now we just need the mobilization and the will to make it happen sooner than later. Educating others and getting the word out is the most important thing,” she said.—Kelly Nolan

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