A Short-Lived Energy Self-Sufficiency Dream: Nixon’s Project Independence. A study of the practical results of Project Independence between 1973 and 1976.

Abstract

In the early 1970s, following the Organization of (Arab) Petroleum Exporting Countries (O(A)PEC) oil embargo and rise in oil price, the United States pictured itself as deeply dependent on foreign oil imports and easily vulnerable to external energy supply disruptions. That situation, worsen by a concrete rise in domestic energy consumption, prompted President Nixon to launch Project Independence: an ambitious initiative aimed at achieving energy self-sufficiency by 1980. Nevertheless, both the oil embargo and the quadrupled prices of petroleum, despite being real problems for other importing countries, were easy-to-manage issues in the American market economy. Therefore, apparently, the problem was not that of a ―growing dependency‖ on imported oil (especially because the U.S. still covered the role of main energy producer in the whole world, and imports from the Persian Gulf were still limited), but rather it was the (little understood) ―energy security‖ problem that scared the American Government. The purpose of this thesis is to analyse the practical results of Nixon‘s Project Independence through a study of the promises and measures adopted between 1973 and 1976. By way of a comprehensive analysis of historical documents, policy documents, memoranda, and energy data, this study assesses the reliability of Project Independence's goals and strategies. The research examines the economic, political, and geopolitical factors that influenced the implementation and outcomes of the Project, underlining, where possible, both its strengths and limitations. The findings of this study suggest that while Project Independence was a well- intentioned effort to address the energy challenges of its time, it faced significant obstacles that contributed to its eventual abandonment culminated with the presidency of Reagan in the early 1980s. After a brief introduction that elaborates on the words pronounced by Nixon on 7 November 1973, the thesis develops in three main chapters. In the first chapter, a deep analysis of the global energy market is provided to explain the context (the so-called ―oil crisis‖ that followed the embargo and the oil prices raise) leading to the creation and adoption of Project Independence in the United States. Consequently, the second chapter develops through a detailed analysis of the Project, its genesis and reactions. If the second chapter presents a theoretical approach, the third, and last chapter, develops analysing the practical aspects of Project Independence. It investigates the Nixon, and Ford, Administration‘s actions describing to what extent were they coherent with the goals forecasted in Project Independence. Therefore, this study offers a critical examination of Project Independence's reliability and explores the reasons behind its failure. By understanding the factors that contributed to the project's lack of success, policymakers and energy experts can gain valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of pursuing energy autonomy in a complex and interconnected global energy landscape. The study contributes to ongoing debates about energy policy, national security, and sustainability, highlighting the need for a nuanced and adaptive approach to addressing energy challenges in the 21st century.