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Executive Summary

Peak summer driving season is fast approaching, and with it comes the reminder that America’s addiction to oil continues to threaten our national security, economic viability, and global environmental health. What we drive, how often we drive, and what fuels we use are at the core of our 21-million-barrel-per-day oil habit. To curb this perilous addiction, we need effective government policies that will increase the availability of efficient vehicles, expand the use of clean fuels, and promote smart growth and public transit alternatives. New NRDC research identifies the states that are most vulnerable to spikes in oil prices—and those states that are doing the most to break their addiction to oil.

This paper ranks U.S. states on two critical areas related to America’s continuing addiction to oil. First, their oil vulnerability—that is, how heavily each state’s citizens are affected by increases in oil prices. Second, states are ranked on their implementation of solutions to reduce their oil dependence—what measures they are taking to lessen their vulnerability and to bolster America’s security.

The data yield two clear conclusions:

Oil dependence affects all states, but some are hit harder economically than others.

While some states are pioneering solutions, many are taking little or no action. In fact, about one-third of states are not taking any steps to reduce their oil dependence.