[Zhang Fei]

[Evidently, we have achieved energy independence]

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Energy independence would involve not using oil at all. Given that there’s more or less a single global price for oil, if oil prices go to $150, our gasoline prices go to $6 a gallon. Like it or not, we need global supplies to flow to keep oil prices low. Would we feel less pain than Europe if oil went to $150? Sure. But we’d still feel a lot of pain.

[Retain Mike]

Doesn’t seem to be much chance there. The only alternative energy source is nuclear fission. All the rest is nuclear fusion sourced in the sun. In this political climate I doubt we would get any even though there is now technology light years ahead of the time civilian power plants were based on ship power plants with each dimension multiplied times 20.