Energy Security Opportunities

$11.2 billion.

That was the U.S. monthly deficit to OPEC in May, 2012. That’s one month!

$1.9 trillion.

This is what oil price shocks and price manipulation by OPEC cost us from 2004 to 2008.

$453.6 billion.

That’s what we spent last year on petroleum imports.

Yeah, this pisses me off, too.

Although the good news is that imports have actually been falling, thanks to both an increase in domestic production and a decrease in consumption.

The bad news, however, is that we’re still importing more than a billion barrels from countries that are hostile towards U.S. interests.

Nothing Good Can From This

“I’ve never seen that before.”

That’s what a random stranger said to me while pointing to my Ron Paul bumper sticker.

“A Ron Paul sticker on a Prius? That’s hilarious!”

I’m not sure what was so hilarious about it. After all, both seek to enable freedom and prosperity.

I’ll tell you something else, too. When it’s time for me to get another car, you can be certain it’s going to be electric. Because let’s be honest here – we are not free, nor can we truly be prosperous if we continue to be led around by the whims of foreign oil suppliers. Especially those in the Middle East who fund terrorist attacks with the money we reluctantly hand over every time we pull up to a pump.

Nope, I’m done with it. And I can’t wait to power my next car with American-made electrons.

Of course, our second car will remain a conventional hybrid as it’ll be at least another eight to ten years before we can get our hands on an electric car that can deliver enough range for those 10-hour road trips to Lake Champlain.

But at least I can take solace knowing that with an average fuel economy of 50 mpg, we’ll be less reliant on petroleum than most gas-guzzlers.

Still, it is increasingly frustrating to read about OPEC production manipulations and secret oil meetings between Iran and Venezuela. Anytime those two get in a room, nothing good can come from it. But that’s not something we can control.

What we can control, however, is how long we continue to allow this nation to be screwed by OPEC.

The OPEC Gravy Train

I apologize if I’m coming off a bit hostile today. But quite frankly, I’m done with this nonsense.

Between the integration of electric vehicles, natural gas-powered trucks and buses, and domestic oil production… we can absolutely cut OPEC off from its most loyal customer.

Hell, just two weeks ago we got the results of an independent review of a new kind of enhanced oil recovery system that’s now being tested in Canada…

Those results indicate this technology could actually triple domestic oil production – and do so without breaking the bank.

And as I’ve written before, transitioning our truck and bus fleets from diesel to natural gas would allow us to displace 42% of what we currently import from OPEC nations — not to mention make a few bucks from a few select natural gas plays that are making a fortune.

Then there’s the move to raise fuel economy standards to 54.5 mpg by 2025 (which is absolutely doable according to nearly every major automaker on the planet). This can allow us to displace 1.7 million barrels per day. And the increase in public transportation planning and development is expected to cut vehicle miles traveled 30% by 2025. That will also result in the displacement of more than a million barrels per day.

If we combine the utilization of the latest oil recovery technology, the transition to natural gas-powered trucks and buses, and the increase in fuel economy standards, we can put a stop to OPEC’s gravy train once and for all.

Of course, I must admit, my motivations aren’t solely dictated by the patriotic act of cutting off OPEC. They’re also dictated by the opportunity to make a boatload of cash. But then again, profiting from the demise of OPEC seems pretty patriotic, too.

To a new way of life and a new generation of wealth…

Jeff Siegel Signature