75 years

50 years

25 years

600 years

100 years

Disproportionately high demand for fossil fuels and a low capacity to produce domestic petrol.

Trade agreements made with OPEC and a per capita demand that far outpaces much of the world.

Superior fuel quality from Middle Eastern-sourced petroleum and low import tariffs.

Most U.S. oil reserves have been exhausted and most oil-rich Middle-Eastern nations are politically very stable and offer reliable trade agreements.

The environmental and labor regulations for oil refining in the U.S. are more costly to firms than the duties and tariffs from importing oil from less regulated countries.

Anthracite

Bituminous coal

Lignite

Sub-bituminous coal

Charcoal

Coal produces relatively low sulphur emissions when burned.

Coal is abundant and confirmed reserves are predicted to last three hundred years.

Clean coal technology is a promising technology that reduces the environmental impact of modern coal plants.

Coal is very energy-dense and has a high energy yield.

Coal can be extracted and processed domestically, potentially reducing U.S. dependency on foreign oil.