1970s Energy Crises and U.S. Energy Policy (1973–1981)

1. Yom Kippur War begins, raising supply fears

   Oct 6, 1973Labels: Yom Kippur, Middle East

   • DOE Timeline
   • Britannica

2. OAPEC announces oil embargo and production cuts

   Oct 17, 1973Labels: OAPEC, Oil Embargo

   • DOE Timeline
   • History com

3. Nixon launches Project Independence initiative

   Nov 7, 1973Labels: Nixon, Project Independence

   • DOE Timeline

4. Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act becomes law

   Nov 16, 1973Labels: Trans-Alaska Pipeline, U S

   • TAPAA
   • AP News

5. Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act establishes controls

   Nov 27, 1973Labels: Emergency Petroleum, Nixon

   • EPAA

6. Federal Energy Office is established

   Dec 4, 1973Labels: Federal Energy, William Simon

   • Presidency App
   • DOE Timeline

7. Arab producers lift the U.S. oil embargo

   Mar 18, 1974Labels: Arab Producers, Oil Embargo

   • UPI Archives
   • Britannica

8. Federal Energy Administration Act becomes law

   May 7, 1974Labels: Federal Energy, FEA

   • DOE Timeline

9. Energy Reorganization Act splits AEC functions

   Oct 11, 1974Labels: Energy Reorganization, NRC

   • NRC
   • DOE Timeline

10. IEA founding agreement is signed

    Nov 18, 1974Labels: International Energy, IEA

    • IEA History
    • State Dept

11. Energy Policy and Conservation Act establishes key tools

    Dec 22, 1975Labels: Energy Policy, Strategic Petroleum

    • Cornell LII
    • DOE Timeline

12. Carter declares a natural gas emergency

    Feb 2, 1977Labels: Carter, Natural Gas

    • DOE Timeline
    • Presidency App

13. Carter announces the National Energy Plan

    Apr 18, 1977Labels: National Energy, Carter

    • DOE Timeline

14. Department of Energy Organization Act is signed

    Aug 4, 1977Labels: Department of, Carter

    • DOE
    • Presidency App

15. Department of Energy is activated

    Oct 1, 1977Labels: Department of, Cabinet Department

    • DOE Timeline
    • DOE History

16. National Energy Act is signed into law

    Nov 9, 1978Labels: National Energy, PURPA

    • Presidency App
    • DOE Timeline

17. Iran’s Shah leaves; exports drop and crisis deepens

    Jan 16, 1979Labels: Iranian Revolution, Iran

    • DOE Timeline
    • FT

18. Three Mile Island accident reshapes nuclear debate

    Mar 28, 1979Labels: Three Mile, Nuclear Accident

    • DOE Timeline

19. Carter announces phased oil price decontrol plan

    Apr 5, 1979Labels: Carter, Oil Price

    • DOE Timeline

20. Carter proclaims national energy supply shortage

    Jul 10, 1979Labels: National Energy, Carter

    • DOE Timeline

21. Carter proposes major synthetic fuels initiative

    Jul 15, 1979Labels: Synthetic Fuels, Carter

    • DOE Timeline

22. Energy Security Act creates synthetic fuels framework

    Jun 30, 1980Labels: Energy Security, Synthetic Fuels

    • Energy Security
    • DOE Timeline