171
The shale gas boom also decreases market prices for gas in the US. US citizens
paid $13.50 per tcf in 2008, compared to around $3–4 by 2009 (Henfer III 2014:1).
Due to the shale gas revolution, the US has already shielded itself from the fickle
fluctuations in global natural gas prices and is coming close to doing so in terms of
oil prices. Domestic oil shortages due to natural disasters and political events could
someday become a thing in the past, especially if natural gas starts fueling American
cars and trucks (Henfer III 2014:1).
The US Energy Information Administration estimates that from 2012 to 2020,
the US is expected to produce about three million bpd of new petroleum and other
liquid fuels mainly from tight oil. By 2020, Canada and the US could together compete with Qatar to become the world’s largest LNG exporter (Blackwill and
O’Sullivan 2014:108).
“Robert D. Blackwill and Meghan L. O’Sullivan” believes that American foreign
policymakers need to make sure they protect the energy resource wealth of US private sector players, building on all the advances made with the shale gas revolution,
and building a supportive legal and regulatory environment (Blackwill and
O’Sullivan 2014:108).
The energy boom brings a host of opportunities to US allies in regional and international agreements such as the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership
(with EU’ 28 members) and the “Trans-Pacific Partnership” (with 11 countries in
the Asia-Pacific and the EU), allowing diversification of supplies from the US LNG
sector (Blackwill and O’Sullivan 2014:109). Another important aspect of the energy
boom in the US is it can boost American leadership on climate change. Natural gas
emits about 40% less carbon than coal, and thus the shale gas revolution gives an
opportunity for the US to use more natural gas in all sectors and decrease greenhouse emissions (Blackwill and O’Sullivan 2014:109). Since the shale gas boom,
the US has so far exported LNG to India, Brazil, Kuwait, Spain, China, Mexico
(www.nationalinterest.org 2017). Turkey and Poland have also received US LNG
(www.nationalinterest.org 2017).
The energy boom allows the United States to engage in international affairs from
a position of strength. An increase in American energy supplies acts as a buffer that
helps reduce the country’s susceptibility to global supply disruptions and price
shocks (www.foreignaffairs.com 2015). Furthermore, the shale gas revolution
allows Washington a stronger position in implementing its international security
aims (www.foreignaffairs.com 2015).
Climate change and energy are important elements of the United States’ national
security and diplomacy. How the US manages changes to its energy economy and
climate will be a critical measure of American leadership for coming years (www.
foreignaffairs.com 2015).
US leadership will be evaluated in terms of the way in which the US controls
shifts in its energy economy and climate. These factors are vital components in the
country’s maintenance of national security and diplomacy. America has numerous
assets such as its military and economic strength, excellent educators and innovative
minds, and a global alliance that spans two oceans; this is what Zbigniew Brzezinski
terms “America’s balance sheet.” This favorable balance, which also includes excelShale Gas Revolution
The shale gas boom also decreases market prices for gas in the US. US citizens
paid $13.50 per tcf in 2008, compared to around $3–4 by 2009 (Henfer III 2014:1).
Due to the shale gas revolution, the US has already shielded itself from the fickle
fluctuations in global natural gas prices and is coming close to doing so in terms of
oil prices. Domestic oil shortages due to natural disasters and political events could
someday become a thing in the past, especially if natural gas starts fueling American
cars and trucks (Henfer III 2014:1).
The US Energy Information Administration estimates that from 2012 to 2020,
the US is expected to produce about three million bpd of new petroleum and other
liquid fuels mainly from tight oil. By 2020, Canada and the US could together compete with Qatar to become the world’s largest LNG exporter (Blackwill and
O’Sullivan 2014:108).
“Robert D. Blackwill and Meghan L. O’Sullivan” believes that American foreign
policymakers need to make sure they protect the energy resource wealth of US private sector players, building on all the advances made with the shale gas revolution,
and building a supportive legal and regulatory environment (Blackwill and
O’Sullivan 2014:108).
The energy boom brings a host of opportunities to US allies in regional and international agreements such as the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership
(with EU’ 28 members) and the “Trans-Pacific Partnership” (with 11 countries in
the Asia-Pacific and the EU), allowing diversification of supplies from the US LNG
sector (Blackwill and O’Sullivan 2014:109). Another important aspect of the energy
boom in the US is it can boost American leadership on climate change. Natural gas
emits about 40% less carbon than coal, and thus the shale gas revolution gives an
opportunity for the US to use more natural gas in all sectors and decrease greenhouse emissions (Blackwill and O’Sullivan 2014:109). Since the shale gas boom,
the US has so far exported LNG to India, Brazil, Kuwait, Spain, China, Mexico
(www.nationalinterest.org 2017). Turkey and Poland have also received US LNG
(www.nationalinterest.org 2017).
The energy boom allows the United States to engage in international affairs from
a position of strength. An increase in American energy supplies acts as a buffer that
helps reduce the country’s susceptibility to global supply disruptions and price
shocks (www.foreignaffairs.com 2015). Furthermore, the shale gas revolution
allows Washington a stronger position in implementing its international security
aims (www.foreignaffairs.com 2015).
Climate change and energy are important elements of the United States’ national
security and diplomacy. How the US manages changes to its energy economy and
climate will be a critical measure of American leadership for coming years (www.
foreignaffairs.com 2015).
US leadership will be evaluated in terms of the way in which the US controls
shifts in its energy economy and climate. These factors are vital components in the
country’s maintenance of national security and diplomacy. America has numerous
assets such as its military and economic strength, excellent educators and innovative
minds, and a global alliance that spans two oceans; this is what Zbigniew Brzezinski
terms “America’s balance sheet.” This favorable balance, which also includes excelShale Gas Revolution