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NICE idea, wrong approach. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney , through .

That’s unlikely to stop the US relying on oil imports, though. Figures from the reveal that 49 per cent of the petroleum used in the US in 2010 was imported, and that may only fall to 36 per cent by 2035.

“Figures reveal that 49 per cent of the petroleum used in the US in 2010 was imported”

It might be better to accept that oil imports are essential, says of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Knoxville, Tennessee. Instead, the US should work out the economic costs of foreign oil dependence, and then shrink those to an acceptable level ().

Doing so would require boosting domestic oil and gas production, as Romney proposes. But it will also be essential to cut consumption through strict fuel economy regulations and greenhouse gas emissions standards – something Romney’s plan does not mention.