At the state level, 33 states and the Gulf of Mexico saw an increase in energy production over the last 20 years. Of those that saw an increase, eight of them increased by more than 100 percent -- with South Dakota increasing 518 percent, Iowa increasing 378 percent and North Dakota increasing by 209 percent. - http://energy.gov/articles/us-energy-production-through-yearsWhereas there seems to be a general consent that only U.S. exports cannot help out Europe, there are considerable profits to be made. Either way, based on quite recent history there seem to be two crucial sectors that can bring an economy down: finance and energy - üheksa korda mõõda, üks kord lõika* is an appropriate proverb.
* - oddly enough it seems that while in English the appropriate translation is measure twice, cut once, Estonians seem to be even more careful measuring it a whole nine times...