Fact Check: Harris on Energy.

Kamala Harris:

“Today, America has record energy production, and we are energy-independent.”

Statement: https://www.politifact.com/personalities/kamala-harris/

On July 18, 2024, in Fayetteville, NC, VP Kamala Harris claimed the U.S. has record energy production and is energy-independent. While overall energy production is at an all-time high, the statement's accuracy depends on how you define "energy independence."

Energy Production:

The U.S. saw a 4% increase in overall energy production in 2023, reaching a record 102.82 quadrillion British thermal units. This includes various energy sources, from heating oil to renewables.

Energy Independence:

The U.S. meets some definitions of energy independence:

• Net energy exporter since 2019
• Net petroleum exporter since 2020
• Domestic energy production exceeds consumption (2019-2023)

However, the U.S. is not a net exporter of crude oil, which is refined into gasoline. The U.S. refineries are built to process heavier crude, primarily imported from overseas. Mark Finley of Rice University said the U.S. is "net self-sufficient," still dependent on global developments.

Rating:

PolitiFact rates this claim as "Mostly True." https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2024/jul/26/kamala-harris/fact-checking-kamala-harris-on-energy-production-i/

Sources:

• VP Harris' remarks: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2024/07/18/remarks-by-vice-president-harris-at-a-political-event-9/
• EIA: https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/us-energy-facts/imports-and-exports.php
  https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/oil-and-petroleum-products/imports-and-exports.php
  https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafHandler.ashx?n=pet&s=mcrimus2&f=a
  https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafHandler.ashx?n=pet&s=mcrexus2&f=a
• J.P. Morgan report: https://am.jpmorgan.com/content/dam/jpm-am-aem/global/en/insights/eye-on-the-market/electravision-amv.pdf
• UT Austin's Strauss Center: https://www.strausscenter.org/energy-and-security-project/the-u-s-shale-revolution/
• Nasdaq article: https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/america-produces-enough-oil-to-meet-its-needs-so-why-do-we-import-crude
• Previous PolitiFact article: https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2023/aug/16/mike-pence/mike-pence-oversells-us-energy-independence-under/
• Expert interviews: Clark Williams-Derry, Mark Finley, Hugh Daigle