Heritage Foundation Leadership for America

US Oil Production and Foreign Oil Imports

Federal limitations on domestic oil production have contributed to a steady decline in US production since 1985. By 1994, the United States was importing more than its total domestic production. Restricting supply raises prices and unnecessarily contributes to US reliance on foreign oil imports.
Download: US Oil Production and Foreign Oil Imports

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US Crude Oil Imports

66 percent of all US crude oil is imported from other countries, and the amount of oil imported from OPEC nations is roughly equal to the amount of oil produced domestically.
Download: US Crude Oil Production and Imports

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Energy Consumption by Source

Petroleum, natural gas and coal are the primary sources of energy consumed in the United States because they are the most energy rich resources available. Throughout history, renewables have only been capable of providing a small portion of total energy consumption, and their contribution to energy consumption has remained roughly flat over the last 20 years.

(BTU, British Thermal Unit: The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 pound of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit.)
Download: Energy Consumption by Source

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Energy Consumption by Source 2006

The largest sources of energy in the US are petroleum an natural gas. Despite Congressional efforts to boost renewable fuel production through mandates and subsidies, renewable fuels accounted for only 7 percent of energy consumption in 2006. Biomass, which includes ethanol, provides only three percent of all energy consumed.
Download: US Energy Consumption by Source

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Gasoline Price Breakdown

The price of crude oil accounts for nearly half of the price of gasoline paid at the pump. In spite of claims of price gouging and calls for price controls, distribution and marketing accounts for a mere 13% of the retail price of gasoline, which is the same as the cost of state and local taxes on gasoline.
Download: Gasoline Price Breakdown

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US Pollution per dollar of GDP

For every dollar of US GDP, the amount of greenhouse gasses and CO2 emissions that are produced in the process has been steadily declining. When countries develop and prosper they create more efficient means of production. As a result, American economic growth has brought more energy efficiency and less pollution per GDP dollar.

*Data adjusted in chained 2000 dollars.
Download: US Pollution per dollar of GDP

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Historical Price of Corn

The real price of corn was significantly higher than the nominal price of corn until 1996. While the nominal and real price of corn remained relatively stable for ten years, both the real and nominal price of corn are back on the rise. With pressure to produce biomass fuels containing higher concentrates of ethanol, prices of corn appear to be further on the rise.
Download: Price of a Bushel of Corn

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Gas Price Trends 1978-2006

Once adjusted for inflation, gas prices today are roughly the same as they were in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Today, gas prices are only 8 cents higher than they were at this time in 2006.
Download: Historical Gas Prices

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