OPEC oil embargo of 1973 reminds us of importance of energy independence

Now more than ever, it is critical for the United States to achieve energy independence, and certain historical markers remind us how important it is to achieve that goal.

Last weekend marked the 36th anniversary of the Second Arab Oil Embargo of 1973. Members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC, embargoed oil for almost six months in response to the United States’ military policy toward Israel during the Yom Kippur War.

That act by OPEC had serious repercussions on the U.S. and global economy – and showed just how dependent the world was for foreign oil. The embargo nearly quadrupled the real price of crude oil at the refinery level and caused massive shortages in the U.S., resulting in long lines at the gas station and government-mandated energy cutbacks.

We cannot let that happen again. One way to increase our energy security is to use the affordable and reliable energy from American coal.

Coal generates electricity at one-third the cost of other fuels – and our country has more than 200 years of available coal reserves. We need to wean ourselves off foreign oil and start putting our most abundant domestic fuel to use on the road.

We can start by supporting hybrid technologies that make it possible for more vehicles to run on coal-generated electricity instead of gasoline.