For most of its history, the United States has felt little concern for its energy needs. The country has had huge reserves of coal, petroleum, and natural gas. In addition, the United States had always been able to buy all the additional fossil fuels it needed from other nations. As late as 1970, automotive and home heating fuels sold for about $0.20–$0.30 per gal ($0.05–$0.08 per l).

That situation changed dramatically in 1973 when members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) placed an embargo on the oil it shipped to nations around the world, including the United States. It took only a few months for the United States and other oil-dependent countries to realize that it was time to rethink their national energy strategies. The late 1970s saw, therefore, a flurry of activity by both the legislative and executive arms of government...