Kevin, over the past 55 years we have not been energy independent, with the exception of a several recent years. We are certainly not currently energy independent. Energy includes things like solar, wind, hydro, oil, natural gas, bio mass, and nuclear. California imports a huge percentage of it's electricity (produced from the above energy sources) from nearby US states and Mexico. So much for that free wonderful wind and solar and welcome to California's sky high electricity costs.
Energy fossil fuels are world commodities - WHich is to say they are bought and sold on world markets and thats where their price is determined.
We dont have any laws in this country which require our fossil fuels be used exclusively within our borders. Our coal, oil, and LNG can and are sold to international countries....while we also import fossil fuels from other countries. Sometimes parts of the US can import from foreign sources cheaper than getting it from our own....and sometimes our deomstic sources get higher margins by exporting instead of selling them at home.
The ratio of that which we export vs import has dramatically increased in favor of export since 2010 and is expected to continue. In any case we will continue to import Saudi and Canadian oil whereever its cost effective to do so.
Boiler, you've suddenly pivoted to defining "importing energy" as "getting it from another state." So you realize how stupid your argument is and are twisting yourself into knots to justify it.
We ARE "energy independent." That we purchase energy from other countries doesn't change that simple fact. If you still disagree, please tell us about your unique Boiler definition of the term.
Fossil fuels are becoming obsolete, just as you are. The percentage of energy produced by sustainable sources is rising. It's inevitable.
PJ, I agree with 99% of what you mentioned. Maybe more
Kevin, energy is often messured in kWh. It's a measure of energy which can be converted from from various sources including oil, gas, hydro, etc. We now impoet more kWh than we produce. We are not energy independent, nor could we be for about a decade, unless we get folks like you out of the way.
Asinine statement, Boiler. And fossil fuel fossils like you are what's in the way. But like the fossil fuel industry, you'll die off.
Fossil fuels aren't measured in kilowatts, unless they're used to generate electricity. And most fossil fuel isn't.
The fact that we import energy doesn't mean that we depend on those imports. We buy it from other countries because it's cheaper. If we had to generate all of our own energy, we could. Otherwise, we wouldn't be exporting it, would we?
There's nothing to bleat about. We buy cheap hydro from Canada because they produce far more than they can use. If somehow that source became unavailable, we could use our existing generating capacity to meet our needs.
