Bingaman: Middle East Turmoil Fuels The Need For Energy Independence

By Rachel Christiansen

The political turmoil in the Middle East is bringing the need for energy independence to the front burner, according to Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), who chairs the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. 

“Whenever geopolitical events remind us of our vulnerability to world oil supply disruptions, it is a spur for us to consider energy policies that help reduce that vulnerability,” Bingaman said during a hearing held Thursday to discuss the energy and oil market projections with a panel of witnesses from the Department of Energy.

Richard Jones, Deputy Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, presented data showing that as U.S. demand for oil continues to increase, so will the price per barrel due to limited resources.  

Jones suggested avoiding “such an untenable energy future” by proposing an “alternative path” that would improve energy efficiency by using nuclear and carbon capturing storage devices and to accelerate advanced vehicle technologies.

“In our view, these steps would help improve lives all over the world by enhancing our country’s energy security by insulating economies from the price volatility inherent in fossil fuel energy markets,” Jones said.