The Energy Security Dilemma US Policy and Practice

This book analyzes the energy security of the United States – its ability to obtain reliable, affordable, and sufficient supplies of energy while meeting the goals of achieving environmental sustainability and protecting national security. The economic and national security of the United States is largely dependent upon fossil fuels, especially oil. Without significant changes to current practices and patterns of energy production and use, the domestic and global impacts – security, economic, and environmental – are expected to become worse over the coming decades. Growing US and global energy demands need to be met and the anticipated impacts of climate change must be avoided – all at an affordable price, while avoiding conflict with other nations that have similar goals.

Bernell and Simon examine the current and prospective landscape of American energy policy, from tax incentives and mandates at the federal and state level to promote wind and solar power, to support for fracking in the oil and natural gas industries, to foreign policies designed to ensure that markets and cooperative agreements ― not armies, navies and rival governments ― control the supply and price of energy resources. They look at the variety of energy related challenges facing the United States and argue that public policies designed to enhance energy security have at the same time produced greater insecurity in terms of fostering rising (and potentially unmet) energy needs, national security threats, economic vulnerability, and environmental dangers.

David Bernell is Associate Professor of Political Science at Oregon State University. He also consults for the renewable energy firm, Think Energy, and has served in the federal government as Advisor on Trade and Environment to the US Department of The Interior, and Special Assistant to the Associate Director for the US Office and Management and Budget, where he worked to develop the federal budget for solar and renewable power, climate change, and energy efficiency.

Christopher A. Simon is Professor of Political Science and a former Director of the MPA Program at The University of Utah.  He conducts research in alternative energy policy; civic community and volunteerism; education policy; criminal justice policy; Homeland Security policy; land use policy; public administration; and military sociology.