A National Energy Program (NEP) is proposed to eliminate the gap between U.S. oil consumption and production and significantly reduce green house gas emissions in a decade to place our nation on the road to a sustainable energy future. With domestic natural gas plentiful, eliminating the “oil gap” will achieve energy independence. The international Energy Agency forecasts this gap to be approximately seven million barrels and day (MBD) in 2025 [1]. Forecasts vary from 4-7 MBD depending on source used. Current forecasts are “not real world”; because they are based on continuation of business as usual conditions in an increasingly unstable world. To cover “downside risk” the goal is set near the upper end of the range to be at least six MBD. President Obama set a goal to reduce green house gas emissions to 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2025; which was 10% above the 2012 level [2]. This equals a reduction of at least 1,300 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent.
America’s strategy must be to treat energy independence as a matter of national security to avoid chaos. According to the Department of Defense the “arc of instability” running through North Africa and Southeast Asia could become an “arc of chaos” involving the military forces of several nations. Turmoil in energy producing nations is on the rise, with increased potential for future combat operations. The implications for future conflicts are ominous should states see the need to militarily secure energy resources [3]. Seven of top ten nations with largest oil and gas reserves are in this region [4]. Every barrel of oil America produces, conserves and replaces with alternatives is a barrel of oil available on the world market we won’t have to defend.

The approaches used to manage Apollo, finance and build the Interstate Highways and transform the nation during World War II are adapted to produce an overview of a strategy and plan to achieve energy independence in this white paper. These efforts were of necessity national undertakings; because, they were instituted to deal with national security threats. A National Energy Program focuses on a similar threat and will be planned and implemented accordingly.

Apollo was a race against time. NEP promises to be a similar race set in turbulent times replete with unexpected and increasingly volatile conditions at home and abroad. Americans of nearly every political stripe are waiting and wondering whether their leaders are prepared to let the nation that saved the world in the twentieth century sink into history in the twenty first. We stand at a crossroads. We simply can’t risk going down the same path increasingly divorced from the real threats of today and the growing ones tomorrow. Will tomorrow belong to America? The genius of America is our ability to transform to meet changing conditions and new threats and become a better and stronger nation. Achieving energy independence is the right place to start.

Six top-level objectives and implementation scenarios that achieve the goal are presented in a National Energy Program white paper. A presentation provides a quick overview of NEP:

• Building & Processes Sector: Replace oil use and reduce emissions in energy efficient buildings and processes that meet end user needs and achieve the goal.

• Transportation Sector: Replace oil use and reduce emissions in a conventional and alternative motor vehicles fleet that meets end user needs and achieve the goal.

• Power Sector: Replace oil use in end user facilities and reduce emissions in an energy efficient, safe and secure 21st century power sector that meets end user needs and achieves the goal.

• Fuels Sector: Replaces oil use and reduce emissions in a fuel sector that achieves the goal and will always be able to provide fuel for vehicles on our roads and tanks on the battlefield.

• Defense Sector: Replace oil use in an energy efficient U.S. military that has the operational energy security to go and win America’s wars without initial access to theater bases and energy supplies.

• Energy Technologies R, D&D: Develop and deploy energy technologies in “rank order” based on ability to achieve sector objectives and the goal.

 

Please find the White Paper and Presentation for the National Energy Program here.

 

[1] EIA, Annual Energy outlook, 2013 early release and short term energy outlook, March 2013
[2] FACT SHEET: U.S.-China Joint Announcement on Climate Change and Clean Energy Cooperation.
[3] “Joint Operating Environment 2010 Report” DOD Joint Forces Command
[4] EIA Data through 2012 by country, region