We Don't Have an Energy Policy: The Lack of a Cohesive and Overarching U.S. Energy Policy and its Effects on U.S. Energy Security

This thesis explores the effects of the U.S. using different definition and concepts of energy security on policy. U.S. energy policy has long been characterized as being internally inconsistent, lacking coordination, and lacking long-term strategy. The project’s overarching hypothesis is that without a definition or concept of energy security, U.S. energy security strategy will continue to be captured by special interests (both inside and outside of government), and U.S. energy policy will continue to lack cohesion and overall coordination. The paper’s three chapters follow an identical format. A research question is posed, followed by an analysis. In Chapter 1, the thesis explores the effects of the Keystone XL (KXL) pipeline. Chapter 2 focuses on the effects on policy when the U.S. Department of Defense has defined and conceptualized ‘energy security,’ while Congressional jurisdictions with oversight have not conceptualized the term. The final chapter examines the agency that is assumed to be the driver of energy policy, the U.S. Department of Energy, and how it affects the development of U.S. energy policy. The results of this paper indicate that the criticism of U.S. energy policy is well deserved, as it is inconsistent, contradictory and lacks a long-term vision. This thesis proposes that the reason for such a lack of consistency or long-term strategy may be linked to the lack of a conception or definition of ‘energy security.’ At the conclusion of the thesis, policy recommendations are made, as well as suggestions for future areas of study on the topic