Bloomberg News published an online article, dated Nov. 11, 2019, titled “U.S. Posts First Month in 70 Years as a Net Petroleum Exporter.” Frankly, it was encouraging to learn that despite the historic expansion and growth of the U.S. economy, the incorporation of increased operational efficiencies enabled the U.S.’s consumption of energy to remain relatively stable. Our economy was in “high gear,” unemployment was at historically low levels, and the stock market continued to reach new heights.

Now, however, Ralph Thayer, in his March 10 commentary (“Conservation Is the Only Way Out of the U.S.’s Energy Trap”),…