Energy Independence of the United States

Under President Biden, the U.S. is actually more energy independent, as energy production is increasing and outpacing consumption, and became a larger net energy exporter in 2021. 

U.S. Energy Information Agency: “Following its historic shift to being a net exporter of petroleum in 2020, the United States continued to export more petroleum (which includes crude oil, refined petroleum products, and other liquids) than it imported in 2021.”

Despite Republicans’ lies, Donald Trump was NOT responsible for the trend that led to the U.S. becoming a net energy exporter. The U.S. became the top producer of oil and natural gas before Trump took office. 

FactCheck.org: “[Trump] suggested, misleadingly, that his administration was responsible for the U.S. becoming the world’s top producer of oil and natural gas. But the U.S. has been No. 1 in the world for natural gas for more than a decade, and tops in petroleum since 2013.”

For most of Trump’s term in office, the U.S. consumed more energy than it produced and was reliant on Russian oil. 

FactCheck.org: “[Trump] also said the U.S. should ‘start producing’ as it did in 2020, rather than ‘buying Russian energy.’ If he was referring to oil, the U.S. was buying from Russia in 2020, and for many years before.”

Republicans’ concept of true “energy independence” isn’t possible in today’s global market, and their whole line of attack is a lie. 

New York Times: “While the United States is now the world’s biggest producer of oil and natural gas, energy prices and supplies still move up and down based on events outside the control of Washington or the American oil industry.”