For more than 30 years, the United States has struggled to enhance its energy security. Unfortunately, these efforts have been episodic rather than systematic. Attention to energy security reaches a fever pitch when global energy prices spike or international conflict threatens to disrupt energy trade.
Recommendations
Responding to these immense challenges will require the full weight and leadership that a new President will bring to office. The next President should:
- Make energy efficiency a national priority and immediately establish the goal of increasing energy efficiency by 2.5 percent per year
- Act early on the energy-climate connection by quickly launching a climate change mitigation instrument, however flawed, rather than spending years developing a comprehensive one
- Avoid policies that ease one part of our energy security problem-import dependence-at the expense of worsening climate change
- Initiate a national dialogue about energy security, consumption, and tradeoffs in order promote energy awareness
- Develop a realistic strategy for energy policy over the long haul, focusing on patience, flexibility, and international cooperation.
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Opportunity 08 aims to help 2008 presidential candidates and the public focus on critical issues facing the nation, presenting policy ideas on a wide array of domestic and foreign policy questions. The project is committed to providing both independent policy solutions and background material on issues of concern to voters.
