By Sen. Wayne Wallingford, District 27 Senator and Missouri Chairman of Vets4Energy
The United States leads the world in the production and refining of oil and the production of natural gas. I think it is important to consider the benefits of that status in relation to geopolitical and national security issues.
Our allies depend on us as a reliable alternative for oil and natural gas as opposed to other nations that do not share our values and which are less stable. In January of 2016, the U.S. began freely trading crude oil after Congress lifted the decades-old ban that had far outlived its usefulness. As a result, the number of nations buying American crude oil has risen to twenty-two. We are also positioned to supply other nations with U.S. natural gas which could assist them in the reduction of carbon emissions, just like we have seen here at home. Natural has for U.S. electricity generation has reduced our carbon emissions to levels not seen in more than two decades. The Department of Energy projects that America will become a net energy exporter sometime in the mid-2020’s because of declining oil imports and increasing LNG exports.
Congress and the Trump administration have signaled support for policies that will support the leadership role of energy production. We are not only well positioned to support our military with the vital energy resources needed to ensure the protection of our country, but to assist key allies with those resources. This transition to energy production leadership means that conflicts which have been a concern of military conflicts in the past will no longer be a factor in our nation’s security.
By encouraging domestic energy development, building necessary infrastructure, and removing export delays and barriers, we can ensure the economic, environmental, geopolitical and security benefits of U.S. exports reach their full potential.
