American Energy Sovereignty

Securing Independence Through Production, Refinement, and Policy

2028 Presidential Campaign of Martin A. Ginsburg, RN

February 5, 2026

I. Introduction: Energy as a Foundation of Sovereignty

Energy sovereignty is the ability of the United States to meet its energy demands domestically in a secure, sustainable, and self-governing manner. This includes producing and refining energy resources within our borders, maintaining a resilient and modern energy infrastructure, and ensuring that no foreign entity can compromise American prosperity or strategic autonomy through control over critical energy inputs.

“We will no longer import energy dependency under the guise of global market participation. Energy independence is not nostalgic—it is strategic.”

But sovereignty without sustainability is an illusion. This administration proposes a comprehensive integration of energy policy and environmental stewardship—recognizing that environmental health is a pillar of national security. Pollution, waste, and climate volatility are economic destabilizers and national vulnerabilities.

II. Energy Independence: Historical Context and Strategic Clarity

There has never been a year in the modern industrial era in which the United States has been structurally energy independent—that is, capable of meeting 100% of its energy needs using only domestically produced fuel and energy products before exporting any, and without relying on imports to compensate for refining capacity shortfalls, grade mismatches, or technological constraints.

While the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that the United States became a net energy exporter in 2019, this milestone reflects a statistical surplus, not a functional one.

Key points of clarification:

• In 2019, the U.S. produced more total energy (BTUs) than it consumed, primarily due to surging shale oil and natural gas output.

• Despite this, the U.S. continued to import:

  • Heavy crude oils for refineries unable to efficiently process lighter domestic shale

  • Refined petroleum products due to regional refining limitations

  • Critical minerals and rare earth elements essential for renewable energy and battery storage

• The U.S. exported energy even while relying on imports, making it technically a net exporter but not functionally independent.

The last time the United States approached energy self-sufficiency in structural terms was prior to World War II. Even then, imports of rubber, strategic metals, and petroleum products left the nation vulnerable to large-scale conflict demands.

Thus, no year in U.S. history has fully satisfied structural energy independence, defined as:

• No net imports of any energy inputs

• Full domestic processing and refining capability

• Reserves and infrastructure adequate to meet all national demand without foreign reliance

“Energy security without environmental responsibility is short-termism masquerading as progress—but energy sovereignty without structural capability is self-deception.”

III. Domestic Production: Balancing Abundance with Responsibility

To secure energy independence permanently, the following actions must be executed with transparency, equity, and environmental integrity.

A. Fossil Fuels

• Federal lease modernization: Expanded leases tied to methane controls, land restoration mandates, and water-use benchmarks

• Tax reallocation: 15% of federal royalty revenues redirected to clean innovation hubs and worker transition programs

B. Renewable Energy

• Utility-scale solar: Land-use efficiency, agrivoltaics, and American-made photovoltaic components

• Wind energy: Regional corridors with avian-safe design, decommissioning escrow, and turbine recycling plans

C. Nuclear

• Life extension of existing plants with enhanced containment and redundant safety systems

• SMR deployment at former coal plant sites using existing transmission infrastructure

D. Hydrogen and Geothermal

• Hydrogen electrolysis hubs in surplus renewable regions with long-term storage

• Expansion of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) in the Rockies and Pacific Northwest

E. Critical Minerals

• Domestic exploration under strict environmental and labor conditions

• Allied supply partnerships (Canada, Australia, EU) under verified ESG agreements

IV. Domestic Distribution: Grid and Logistics Resilience

Energy sovereignty requires control over power movement and distribution.

A. Electrical Grid

• National Transmission Planning Authority (NTPA): Federal–state planning and oversight of multi-state buildouts

• Grid modernization through line burial, digitized command centers, and AI-based load balancing

• Incentives for microgrids, rooftop solar, and community battery banks

B. Fuel Logistics

• Pipeline retrofitting and decommissioning based on integrity testing

• Dual-fuel and electric freight investment for diesel-intensive corridors

C. Environmental Safeguards

All projects undergo federal lifecycle analysis and publish carbon intensity data.

V. Refining Capacity: Domestic Processing as a National Asset

A. Infrastructure Expansion

• New refining capacity in Midwest, Appalachian, and Gulf Coast regions

• Conversion of idle refineries into multi-feedstock bio-refineries

B. Innovation Mandates

All new facilities must:

• Capture 90%+ process CO₂

• Recycle 50% of industrial water

• Co-process at least 20% renewable inputs by year five

C. Waste Management and End-Use Efficiency

Incentives for low-sulfur, high-efficiency fuels with minimal lifecycle waste.

VI. Export Policy: Strategic Trade for Global Stability

A. LNG and Crude Oil

• Export quotas triggered by price, reserve, and grid stability metrics

• Allied Prioritization Clause: Preferential terms for nations meeting labor, climate, and human rights standards

• Lifecycle scoring for each export contract

B. Energy Diplomacy

Energy attachés stationed at embassies to negotiate stockpile reciprocity and joint R&D.

VII. Energy Imports: Eliminating Vulnerabilities

A. Refined Products

• Eliminate imports from adversarial regimes within 24 months

• Replace with domestic production or Canadian/EU partnerships

B. Crude Substitution

• Expand Western Canadian Select imports

• Reduce shipborne crude through pipeline and rail corridors

C. Emissions and ESG Standards

Every imported BTU must meet full emissions, water, labor, and transparency benchmarks.

VIII. Oversight and Institutional Mechanisms

A. Structural Instruments

• Office of National Energy Balance (ONEB): Real-time dashboards for production, reserves, and emissions

• Environmental Energy Resilience Directive (EERD): Environmental benchmarks embedded in energy policy

B. Stakeholder Representation

Bipartisan Energy Oversight Commission with quarterly public reporting and congressional testimony authority.

C. Public–Private Accountability

• ESG disclosures and independent verification for all major contracts

• Worker transition audits tied to fossil fuel subsidies

Concluding Remarks

“American energy sovereignty is about more than barrels and BTUs. It’s about protecting our people, honoring our environment, and refusing to rent our future from geopolitical adversaries.”

“Energy is the bloodstream of our economy, the bulwark of our defense, and the backbone of our independence. But that energy must flow through clean, sustainable, and accountable systems.”