There is little question that the U.S. needs to diversify its energy portfolio and implement more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives to hydrocarbons.  However, just because alternative energies are all the rage right now, doesn’t mean that we should be snubbing Big Oil.

We are currently in the midst of an energy boom. Crude oil production levels have been on the rise since 2008. Last year, the U.S. produced 2.3 billion barrels, which is the highest amount since 1997. This boom is due to new advances in extraction technologies, which have enabled the exploration of new resources in locations such as North Dakota. These new opportunities have oil and natural gas companies feeling as bullish as ever.

This is in contrast to a common notion that hydrocarbons are on the way out. While it’s true that progress has been made in the development of solar, wind and nuclear power, these energy sources are so heavily dependent on government subsidies that they are unlikely to become legitimate alternatives for at least a couple decades. Similarly, biofuels and electric powered cars continue to be inhibited by their astronomical cost.

Thus, people looking to make an impact in the energy industry should still consider entering the field of oil and natural gas. BP CEO Bob Dudley boasted in the Wall Street Journal that college graduates going into petroleum engineering will have phenomenal opportunities: “The oil and gas boom is real. It will last decades. Young people, especially young women who make up a large share of college graduates, would be smart to get on the bandwagon.”

Ultimately, we need alternative energies, but in the meantime we can’t forget that oil and natural gas still serve a fundamental role in our daily lives. Contributing to this fundamental need of the present is just as significant as contributing to the future. This is a message that our government needs to understand.

For the sake of our economic future, legislators should continue progressing toward energy independence by allowing American oil companies to expand their operations. Specifically, this means allowing companies to improve their transportation systems to help manage their new supplies.

Of course, these expansions are often met with environmental concerns. While there are legitimate issues regarding these projects, the potential risks need to be weighed against the benefits of lifting our economic and political dependence on Middle Eastern oil.

The current debate over the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline is a prime example of this. Building the pipeline from Canada to Texas would undoubtedly create jobs and stimulate economic growth along with making North America more self-sufficient. However, it has continued to receive staunch opposition from environmentalist groups, despite the fact that the State Department concluded that there is no major environmental reason to prevent its construction. This is especially frustrating considering that the builder of the pipeline already agreed to reroute the project to avoid the fragile Sandy Hills aquifer system in Nebraska, which was the environmentalists’ primary concern. In this case, the potential benefit to our economic stability should not be stifled by the unfortunate stigma that many people associate with the oil industry.

Eventually, alternative energies will be implemented that will reduce the negative impacts of Big Oil. However, we need to recognize that being able to produce our own energy is critical in softening price swings of the volatile crude oil market. Being able to promote alternative energies in conjunction with expanding oil and gas is the balanced approach that America needs., 

As the head of Laredo Petroleum told NBC, “We as a nation, we just won’t recognize that hydrocarbons are here to stay as an energy source, and it’s a very high quality energy source. We can do all we want with wind, solar and algae. I hope all that stuff works. The fact of the matter is we are going to be using hydrocarbons for some time to come.”

From our lawmakers to our college graduates, our nation needs to recognize that Big Oil is here to stay. We can either embrace it for our economic benefit, or endure the pain of Middle Eastern dependence while we wait for a miraculous alternative to take its place.

Andrew is a sophomore in Engineering. He can be reached at [email protected].