The focus of my senior project was the threat oil dependence presents to the future of the United States energy security. For the context of my research I defined energy security as minimizing the susceptibility of the U.S. economy against prolonged supply disruptions and price volatility in the world oil market. Further, I addressed how this could translate into negatively impacting our national security and foreign policies. I discussed possible remedies, such as increasing our domestic supply of oil, but reasoned that the most effective policy would be a demand side solution, specifically reducing consumption levels. Since over 68% of oil consumption in the United States occurs in the transportation sector, I targeted it as the best candidate for reducing consumption levels. In the paper I discussed how currently available technology, such as hybrid vehicles and alternative fuels, was the solution to reducing the oil intensity of the transportation sector. However, I realized that the natural growth of these products would not be sufficient to have any impact on consumption levels. In order to bring about the needed changes it would require the federal government providing the right incentives. I analyzed two current plans, one by the Apollo Alliance and the other by the Energy Future Coalition, which make suggestions on how the federal government through tax-based incentives could encourage change in the auto industry and consumer support of these new technologies. I judged the plans on the feasibility of their implementation, their proposed benefits, and the level of reduced consumption actually achieved.