ABSTRACT
The concept of energy independence is a durable one – a perennial campaign promise meant to evoke a future in which our energy security is assured through American self-reliance. Of course, producing all our own oil and gas will not protect us any better from storms, or terrorists, or from our own aging grid. It may not even protect us much against price spikes. The United States is already a net-exporter of natural gas and oil, but both are global commodities, and prices are necessarily a function of geopolitical dynamics and the market intervention of foreign governments. Starting in earnest with Hurricane Katrina in 2012, our national conversation around energy security has shifted from national energy independence to more targeted energy resilience. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book. The book is intended to give context to the energy resilience discussion and establish a conceptual framework for our analysis.
