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Energy Independence – What Then? (Part Four: The Environment) / Joel Darmstadter, CommonResources, RFF, 18/12/2012http://common-resources.org/2012/energy-independence-what-then-part-four-the-environmentAs we’ve explained in earlier posts increased US and Canadian production and more efficient use of liquid fuels has meant declining energy imports, with energy security and economic benefits for North America.On the production side the driving forces have been the remarkable development of petroleum reserves in the Bakken deposits of the Williston Basin of North Dakota and nearby Saskatchewan and constantly expanding output from Alberta’s huge reserves of oil sands. But these developments have environmental consequences along with their security and economic benefits...This post is the last in a four-part series on energy independence and its significance (or insignificance)  See below for links to all four posts. Note also that while earlier posts in this series were jointly authored with Roger Sedjo, this post represents only the views of its author - ed.&#160;