An Analysis of the 2001 National Energy Policy: Is a Domestic Production-Based Oil Policy Appropriate for the United States?

The Bush Administration's National Energy Policy (NEP) was released in May 2001, addressing all areas of energy consumption and production in the US. A brief history of oil is provided, highlighting how oil rose to the contemporary forefront of the US energy policy, and the NEP and its major premises and recommendations are outlined. Specifically, NEP's recommendations regarding oil are examined in more detail, looking at the recommendations for a production-based approach, which are analyzed to determine whether they will achieve the desired result. Proponents of the policy argue that an increase in domestic production is necessary to increase the country's supply of oil and to increase national security. Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is explored as a means to that end. It is argued overall that the NEP's domestic oil production emphasis is misplaced, as the US cannot produce its way out of foreign oil dependency. Unfortunately, the NEP's recommendations regarding increased oil production will likely become official Administration policy, and the specific policies will likely be implemented with little public accountability.