Energy Imports in the United States

If you compare the energy produced by the United States with the energy consumed, the USA is over 70% self-sufficient. In order to become energy independent, the USA needs to take a major step in reducing our need for foreign oil.

The USA relies heavily on foreign oil for meeting energy needs in transportation and electricity. Because there is a global oil market, prices and availability do not depend on individual countries, but only on the global rate of supply and demand.

Despite being the third largest producer of oil in the world, the USA produces only 40% of the oil it needs. In 1970, US oil production peaked. In the early 1990s, oil imports surpassed domestic oil production.

Natural gas is the second biggest import behind oil. Imports of natural gas were relatively stable from 1970 to 1986. Since then, the USA has needed to import a rising amount of natural gas. The great majority of gas imports come by pipeline from Canada. The small remainder comes in liquefied form on tankers from a few different overseas countries.