Energy independence? Won't happen. We'll export the petroleum. and continue to buy from the Middle East. The current administration is all talk about energy unless it is solar or wind (renewable) energy.
If the US could reduce emissions from electricty production from coal and use it, we would be essentially energy independant and reduce our total carbon emissions at the same time. But if the current administratin has its way, there will be no coal mined in the US. They cry carbon emissions and China and India are increasing their coal production and use yearly and producing more carbon emissions. It is all a racket. The Al Gore types will become billionaires over this stuff and there will be no appreciable reduction in world wide carbon emissions. But we the consumer will pay one hell of a price for our emissions.
The problem is people confuse energy useful for power generation (which we use virtually no oil for) and energy for mobile applications (for which we use virtually nothing BUT oil). True, we could do CTL/GTL, but that's as likely as nuclear unfortunately, meaning not much replacement for mobile fuels.
Point is, we are virtually energy independent on the balance (all forms of energy) NOW, but that is because we have a surplus of coal, and a dearth of oil.
Of course, this allows pols to say we will be energy independent, while simultaneously saying we don't want to increase oil/gas production.
And the sheeple just chew their grass and blink.
