Energy and National Security
Energy issues course through of the heart of U.S. economic, environmental and national security interests. Because the United States imports almost 60 percent of the oil it uses, even small supply disruptions or price spikes can have enormous economic impacts on Americans and our economy overall. Similarly, our outdated electric grid is vulnerable to attack and disruption that could also cripple our economy. Finally, U.S. reliance on oil and other fossil fuels contributes to the worldwide pollution that causes global warming, which also threatens our economic and national security.Energy interests are a driving force in U.S. national security and geopolitical calculations. It is not a coincidence that we place a high national priority in ensuring stability and unfettered trade in the Middle East and other regions we depend upon for critical energy supplies.
The Department of Defense has a clear stake in seeing that the United States reduces its reliance on foreign energy supplies, developing domestically-produced and clean energy supplies and in reducing vulnerability to oil price shocks. Every $10 increase in the cost of a barrel of oil costs the Department of Defense $1 billion. For these and many other reasons, the Department of Defense is playing a leadership role in energy efficiency and use of clean energy technologies.
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