Energy

Needed: A Strategy to Remain an Energy Superpower By Brian Katulis January 8, 2015 | Wall Street Journal Energy policy has featured prominently in the nascent debate between the 114th Congress and the Obama administration. Republican leaders vowed to hold a vote on the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, and the White House announced that the president would not sign the legislation if it passed. But the pipeline is just one of an array of issues that affect energy security, environmental challenges, and foreign-policy priorities. Over the past few years, the United States has emerged as an energy superpower, overtaking Saudi Arabia and Russia to become the world’s largest producer of oil and gas. Global energy markets have taken note: Oil prices have fallen more than 50% since summer, a steep drop contributing to uncertainty among investors–and… Read More ›

  A factory smokestack in New Jersey emits pollutants into the atmosphere. [UN photo by John Isaac, 4/12/05] Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that the United States will sharply curb emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants between now and 2030. This is an important step forward in addressing the security threat posed by climate change, which is a key driver of international conflict and which if left unchecked will likely require action by the U.S. military that would strain its capacity. While the EPA plan has drawn criticism from conservatives in Congress who have complained that it will be expensive and hurt jobs, especially in the mining industry, these myopic critiques overlook the long-term hazards of climate change. The new plan… Read More ›

Materials Requirements Analyst Major Sean Sadlier demonstrates Ground Renewable Expeditionary Energy (GREENs) apparatus. [Official U.S. Navy Page via Flickr, 4/2/13]During the State of the Union speech earlier this week, President Obama reaffirmed that addressing climate change remains a national priority. Increasingly, climate change will affect American national security interests and create new challenges to be met in the international system. This conclusion has been reached by analysts and intelligence agencies, who now factor climate change into U.S. strategic planning. Climate change will mean exacerbation of current conflicts and tensions, particularly as water insecurity affects populations and their ability to produce energy and food, with ramifications for the stability of weak states. Rising temperatures are shrinking the Arctic ice, opening the door to competition for access… Read More ›

Today President Obama is presenting a new climate initiative that will lay out a three-part strategy to lessen U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, help lead international climate talks and protect the U.S. from the effects of climate change. Military leaders and national security experts have long noted  that climate change and energy insecurity pose serious national security threats to American interests, and urged a comprehensive American response. The political and security consequences of climate change are not hypothetical or in some distant future, but are real and already occurring – as a recent series of policy reports demonstrates. Action is required on multiple fronts to protect American interests and promote global security. Climate change and energy insecurity pose national security risks Accelerating and multiplying threats. The Quadrennial… Read More ›

In his State of the Union address this week, President Obama stressed the importance of making progress toward a sustainable energy future – drawing on concerns about climate change and competitiveness as well as the views of senior military personnel who have called for investment in greener energy. He said, “the good news is we can make meaningful progress on this issue while driving strong economic growth. I urge this Congress to get together, pursue a bipartisan, market-based solution to climate change, like the one John McCain and Joe Lieberman worked on together a few years ago.” On the heels of the speech there will also be a large rally in Washington DC this Sunday to call attention to the issue. While our political leaders… Read More ›

Liberals Shouldn’t Fear Chuck Hagel’s Environmental Record By Ben Adler December 24, 2012| New Republic Former Senator Chuck Hagel served in the Senate as a Republican, but you could be forgiven for thinking otherwise this week: Most of the attacks on his potential nomination as Secretary of Defense have come from conservatives troubled by his realist foreign policy views and past statements on Israel. This has led some liberals to rush to his defense. “He wanted the United States to exert influence internationally, but by working with other countries,” John Judis wrote. But Hagel’s belief in international cooperation had its limits. As a senator, he actively worked against one of the most important diplomatic efforts during his time in office: the Kyoto Protocol to limit climate… Read More ›

As Americans struggle with rising gas prices, conservative candidates have been on the attack against the Obama administration. The conservative arguments, however, are counter to what experts on the subject say about both the causes of the rising oil price and current production. What is true: U.S. domestic production is rising steadily – and the new factor contributing to price rises is speculation over a war with Iran, coming largely from conservatives themselves. What is fundamental: these attacks and simplistic solution – “drill baby, drill!” – ignore the larger challenge of a comprehensive approach to energy that invests in America’s future and disengages from the tyranny of oil markets and Middle East politics. Tensions and fears regarding conflict with Iran boost energy costs; an actual… Read More ›

Major General Paul Eaton said last month, “Bringing down consumption of imported oil is very much in the interest of [...] Read More ›

"Bringing down consumption of imported oil is very much in the interest of national security," Eaton said. Eaton [...] Read More ›

He says a majority of the United States' military power goes to securing our oil interests overseas. "We're [...] Read More ›