[mvpel]

Adjusted for inflation, the price of gasoline is not much higher than it was in 1970. Why not buy someone else's non-renewable resource while it's relatively inexpensive, and save ours for later?

The price increase during a time of war and market uncertainty is to be expected. No reason to stampede the nation into depleting a reserve until we really, really need it.

[Isara]

What are the criteria of "until we really really need it"?

Remember that it's a long process to get any oil or gas up. Right now, we don't even have any agreement whether to drill or not. This part of the process alone may take a decade.

[Carry_Okie]

Adjusted for inflation, the price of gasoline is not much higher than it was in 1970. Why not buy someone else's non-renewable resource while it's relatively inexpensive, and save ours for later?

Balance of Payments. We won't get that far if we don't fix it. Meanwhile, we can access the wealth to produce the capital necessary to implement substitute sources.