I remember talks during the 90s about decreasing our dependence on foreign oil. If we did not make the transition to renewables decades ago then we kind of deserve the insane prices.
So, the federal government was actively looking into our foreign dependence on oil back c. 1970 (and no doubt at times in prior decades). 50 years later and all we've got are "Drill, baby, drill!" slogans and slow movement to renewables.