December 06, 2011 05:00 PM CST
U.S. Is Already a Net Exporter of Oil →
I knew that the energy situation in the U.S. had been improving but I didn't realize that it was already this good.
To be sure, part of the reason for this change is that demand for energy in the U.S. is down in the sluggish aftermath of the Great Recession, while demand for energy in other parts of the world is rising. For example, the U.S. is now a net exporter of oil to Brazil, Mexico, Argentina. While exports and imports will bounce around in the short-run, over the longer run it appears that the U.S. is on track to become an energy exporter of oil, coal, and even natural gas (as technology improves for shipping liquified natural gas).
I look forward to the day when the U.S. becomes a net exporter of oil to Venezuela. Given how badly Chavez is mismanaging things, that may not take as long as you'd think.