That is debatable.  A big part of the reason we are already on a path to achieve energy independence is because we have implemented a lot of energy efficiency initiatives, reducing demand.  Regulation helps, and the "new" Republicans - including Romney-Ryan - want to deregulate everything.

I say "new" Republicans, because even under Bush we saw a push toward increased energy efficiency through regulation.  In 2007 he signed an executive order requiring federal agencies to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2015.  He also required those agencies with at least 20 vehicles to reduce their consumption of petroleum by 2% while increasing their non-petroleum based fuel use by 10% per year.  The senior George Bush signed a similar executive order in 1991.

Also in 2007, Bush signed the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which created new energy efficiency standards for light bulbs.  It also increased fuel economy standards by 40% with a goal of a national fuel economy standard of 35 miles per gallon. 

In his State of the Union Address, President Bush announced his "twenty in ten" challenge with a goal of reducing U.S. gasoline consumption by 20% in ten years.

Somewhere along the lines, the "new" Republicans decided the answer to energy independence was simply "more drilling" and an increase in the amount of fossil fuels we consume.  Furthermore, Romney's plan relies on current forecasts for demand - with the fuel efficiency standards put in place by past Republicans and Democrats (including President Obama), but Romney has argued against such standards.  I'm not the first person to point this out.

But the Romney plan promises far too much as a result of these policy shifts. It extensively cites recent Citigroup research to back up its claims its contention that North America could eliminate all imports by 2020 as well as to support its claims about jobs and economic growth. Yet that study is not just about oil supplies — it assumes that the United States will continue with strict fuel economy standards that lower its oil demand. Romney, though, has argued that such standards are the wrong way to go, and proposes no alternative scheme in his energy plan.

Achieving energy independence depends on a balanced approach of increasing production, and reducing demand.  We have been on a path of accomplishing both for several Administrations, both Democrat and Republican.  Production is actually up under the Obama Administration, which continued the path set by President Bush. 

I think the Romney-Ryan ticket wants to take us backwards.