JSPES, Vol. 35, No. 4 (Winter 2010)
pp. 409-425

United States’ Energy Security: Challenges and Opportunities

Gawdat Bahgat

Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies, National Defense University

For several decades energy security has been one of the top challenges to the United States’ economic prosperity, national security, and indeed the American way of life. This essay discusses the recent developments in fossil fuels, particularly oil sands, the Gulf of Mexico, shale gas, and clean coal. Rhetoric and skepticism aside, the analysis suggests that Washington is on the right track to enhance its energy security.