[LadyRuby]

No, this isn't any current legislation, but I came across this interesting factoid from a 1980 publication.

The article described energy legislation in 1979 that allocated billions toward energy conservation to reduce our oil imports by 50% by the year 1990.

At that time, we were importing roughly 35% of our oil. Now we're importing about 63%.

Funny, it was such a HUGE issue back then at 35%. It's a little more of an issue now than it was a year ago, but still not the concern it was back in the 70s. Too bad we didn't stick with the plan.

[mekrob]

So how did that turn out? Oh yeah, Reagan elected President. All alternatives dismembered and then fed to the dogs. Prices lowered. Big cars are back. Demand is up (but so was supply 'luckily'). Gotta love Reagan.

If somehow we are able to find more oil or at least more oil for the US, then with growth of demand and depletion of our resources, we'll only be producing 5 mpd while importing 20-25 mpd by 2025, the time when 75% of our ME oil imports will be 'cut'. In another 19 years, we're looking at going from 60% to 80-83%. Just fantatic, no?

[Frank]

I don't like what Reagan did either, but it is fair to point out that exploration efforts were really stepped-up after the '70's experience which resulted in North Sea finds, etc. There was a short-term surplus so people lost sight of the issue. This is what happens when you lose sight of reality. Short-term economic gains win hands-down every time.

[grabby]

No, this isn't any current legislation, but I came across this interesting factoid from a 1980 publication.

The article described energy legislation in 1979 that allocated billions toward energy conservation to reduce our oil imports by 50% by the year 1990.

At that time, we were importing roughly 35% of our oil. Now we're importing about 63%.

Funny, it was such a HUGE issue back then at 35%. It's a little more of an issue now than it was a year ago, but still not the concern it was back in the 70s. Too bad we didn't stick with the plan.

Instead of halving it, we doubled oil use.
Now we have to cut our use in half just to get to the outrageous 1980 overusage level.
So now we need to cut by 75%.

You see why we can no longer conserve enough to make any difference?

We could pass laws to drive all cars every 4th day only.
all trucks can only drive 16 hours a week, trains may run all the time.
lets make trains competitive with trucks in delivery time.

However wally mart would shut down, they are building a system to have STOCK ON HAND ONLY thanks to computers.
It is not possible to cut back now without putting businesses out of businesses.
Wally land has not enough storage space for 4 days.

we are painted in a corner.
Peak is going to hit hard.

[aahala]

From 1977 to 1983, US oil imports dropped by (nearly) 50%.
(Percent of imports to total consumption dropped more than 50%).

How much of the reduction was due to conservation and
efficiency improvements I don't know. During the period,
North Slope oil increased, petro used for electrical production
was reduced significantly and there may have been some
switching from fuel oil to NG/electricity for heating.

Certainly some of the reduction was because of CAFE and other
efficency improvements.

[MonteQuest]

From 1977 to 1983, US oil imports dropped by (nearly) 50%.
(Percent of imports to total consumption dropped more than 50%).

How much of the reduction was due to conservation and
efficiency improvements I don't know. During the period,
North Slope oil increased, petro used for electrical production
was reduced significantly and there may have been some
switching from fuel oil to NG/electricity for heating.

Certainly some of the reduction was because of CAFE and other
efficency improvements.

Industrial and commercial demand for oil dropped, but transportation use (miles driven) actually went up as miles per gallon improved, resulting in an increase in oil use for transportation.

Jevon's Paradox.

[aahala]

Monte, do you have a cite for an increase in
oil for transportation during this period? This page from
EIA, for gasoline only, doesn't show it:

http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/hist/mgfupus1A.htm

The chart seems to say the first "peak" was 1978, the low
point of 1982 and did not reach the 1978 figure again until
1993.

[DigitalCubano]

Industrial and commercial demand for oil dropped, but transportation use (miles driven) actually went up as miles per gallon improved, resulting in an increase in oil use for transportation.

Jevon's Paradox.

Sill peddling this simplistic nonsense, huh?

[oilfreeandhappy]

Carter did a lot to promote energy conservation and awareness. He was the first president to breng these issues to the forefront. Reagan's campaign was focused around the idea of "We're America, we can have it all", and that's exactly what most Americans wanted to hear. He won in a landslide.

[emersonbiggins]

Industrial and commercial demand for oil dropped, but transportation use (miles driven) actually went up as miles per gallon improved, resulting in an increase in oil use for transportation.

Jevon's Paradox.

Sill peddling this simplistic nonsense, huh?

But, VMT (the red line) has doubled since 1980. This graph, from the FHWA, mind you, illustrates: