Popular Mechanics: 7 Energy Efficiency Myths Debunked: Guest Analysis

The emotional appeal of energy independence is undeniable—it suggests freedom from foreign oil and, therefore, from foreign entanglements. But over the past few years, veteran energy writer Robert Bryce argues, the political players who are promoting the concept of energy independence have created a set of false promises to bolster their campaigns and give such independence the appearance of credibility. In exclusive excerpts from his new book, Gusher of Lies, Bryce examines the facts behind those promises.

By Robert Bryce

1. Energy independence will mean better energy security for the U.S.
After the hurricanes of 2005 ravaged New Orleans and other areas along the Gulf of Mexico, several damaged refineries in the region were unable to operate. Within a few days of the storm, gasoline shortages hit several southern U.S. cities. The shortages were, thankfully, short-lived. The reason: imported gasoline.

By mid-October 2005, just six weeks after Hurricane Katrina, gasoline imports had soared from 1 million barrels (or less) per day to 1.5 million barrels per day, the highest level recorded up to that time by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) since it began tracking these imports in 1982. Without gasoline from refineries in Venezuela, the Netherlands and elsewhere, the post-Katrina shortages would surely have continued.

Global commodities markets, like the one for oil, are famous for volatility and sensitivity to world events—even domestic events such as Katrina. To mitigate these effects and to ensure long-term economic security, the United States has no choice but to buy the gasoline it needs on the global market.

2. Greater efficiency results in lower energy consumption and, therefore, will hasten the day of energy independence.
History shows that as the U.S. economy has grown more energy efficient, energy consumption has continued to climb. In 1980, the U.S. was using about 15,000 Btu per dollar of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). By 2004, the energy intensity of the U.S. economy had improved dramatically, so that just over 9000 Btu were required for each dollar of GDP. By 2030, the EIA projects that energy intensity will fall to about 5800 Btu per dollar of GDP. But even with that dramatic increase in efficiency, the EIA predicts that overall energy consumption in the U.S. will increase by more than 30 percent, rising from 100.1 quadrillion Btu in 2005 to 131.1 quadrillion Btu in 2030. (A quadrillion Btu is equal to about 172 million barrels of crude oil.)

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NVDL: It seems to me, the first step we - human beings - need to take to address our collective conundrum, is to stop telling lies to each other.