There's no such thing as energy independence in our globalized,
fossil-fueled world Anyone who tells you that energy
independence can be achieved based on globally traded
commodities such as oil, coal and natural gas is either trying
to mislead you or doesn't understand the structure of energy
markets. As of 2011 fossil fuels produced 83 percent of the
world's energy according to the U.S. Energy Information
Administration (EIA). Because fossil fuels can be transported
anywhere in the world, producers seek out the highest price
unless they are constrained by law or infrastructure from doing
so. This means that energy independence for a country is
something of an optical illusion when it is based merely on the
domestic production of fossil fuels. Here's why: - Events far
away such as wars; embargoes; strikes; and mine, oilfield and
refinery disasters affect the level of domestic prices for
fossil fuels in all countries where these fuels are freely
exportable regardless of whether that country produces enough fo