New Energy, New Geopolitics: Background Report 3

The third and final background report in the New Energy, New Geopolitics series, this report examines how the U.S. government is attempting to incorporate shale gas and tight oil developments into current U.S. energy and national security strategy. This strategy is still evolving, and going forward U.S. policymakers face a choice between two strategic paths for managing shale gas and tight oil resources—“energy stability” or “energy leverage.” The difficulty in deciding a way ahead is complicated by the uncertainty about the future of unconventionals themselves, and the report assesses a range of possible futures in order to inform risk judgments associated with the potential strategic pathways.