US energy boom creates record surplus

Jul 08, 2024

Production from renewables & shale oil soars

By Farms.com

The US is experiencing a surge in energy production, driven by growth in both shale oil and renewable sources like wind and solar. This has resulted in the nation's highest ever energy surplus, exceeding consumption by a significant margin.

While the US isn't completely energy independent due to reliance on specific crude imports, it has achieved a remarkable level of self-sufficiency. This trend began under the Trump administration with the shale oil boom and continued under the current administration.

The surplus reached a record 9 quadrillion British thermal units in 2023, with total energy production reaching nearly 103 quadrillion BTU. However, the future of this surplus is uncertain.

Tax incentives could accelerate renewable energy adoption, while investor pressure might slow shale oil growth. Additionally, rising demand from data centers fueled by the AI boom could erode the surplus.

The future of US energy policy and how the nation will meet its growing needs remains an important topic for discussion.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.