Freedom from Oil author David Sandalow.
In the summer of 2006, Brookings scholar and former assistant Secretary of State, David Sandalow had lunch with Newt Gingrich. A short time later, he dined with Howard Dean. At the meals he asked both men the same question: "What should the United States do about its dependence on oil?"
Dean and Gingrich gave essentially the same answer.
When the icons of the left and right agree - there is hope. What is lacking is leadership - from the top.
Sandalow went on to explore the ways we consumes oil and the problem this creates. He researched how to use oil more efficiently, and how to develop the infrastructure for substitutes. He concluded that freedom from oil will take national leadership.
There is nothing that unites Americans and captures the national spirit like a challenge. We always have been and always will be a nation of tinkerers. innovators, inventors, entrepreneurs, and problem solvers. That is why a President like John F. Kennedy could spark our imaginations with the challenge to put the first human footprint on the moon.
Imagine a memo from the next President that begins "I plan to deliver an address from the Oval Office one month from today. The topic will be oil dependence. This memorandum seeks recommendations for that speech."
Freedom from Oil tells this story - providing a fictional account of how the next President of the United States could help end our dependence on oil.The book takes the reader to the highest levels of government, as Cabinet members and White House aides debate how to break our addiction to oil.
It is sad this has not already happened. We can certainly fault President Bush for lack of leadership, but then none of the candidates are making energy independence the top priority, either.
In an interview on Amazon.com Sandalow describes the political opportunities.
"This is a huge slow pitch softball waiting for any politician who wants to grab the bat and hit it out of the park. I think they can change history by doing it".
At least in my opinion, the nation is already on the move. For instance, I can stand on my in-laws farm in Southern Minnesota and look east to a horizon dominated by wind-mills towerng above the town of Dodge Center. I can look north to the steam rising from the Ethanol plant in Claremont, and look west to the country road where trucks haul grain to the bio-diesel plant in Albert Lea.
Imagine what we could do if our national leaders got out ahead of the energy challenge, rather than lagging behind it? Imagine a Manhattan Project scale initiative to achieve energy independence.
Freedom from Oil is the story of how this could be done.
Gather articles by David Sandalow
Greetings From David Sandalow: Author of "Freedom From Oil"
"Freedom from Oil" Memo from the President
Three Insights on Our Country's Oil Dependency
Plug-in Hybrids: The Answer to Oil Dependency?
Do you know the difference between oil and orange juice?
Winning The Race on Ethanol: How It's Done
J
oin in the live chat with David Sandalow, author of "Freedom From Oil" on Tuesday, February 5th, 4-5 p.m. ET
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Comments: 49
If we could create a visual of the fact there is enough energy in a glass of water to power a city it might stimulate the kids,
after all the cell phone plugged into this laptop were thirty forty years ago little more then props on Star trek that some kid made into reality when they grew up
Change the Congress. I will not vote for any incumbent Representative or Senator this year because they are all part of a corrupt system. And, I will not vote for a Senator or Representative for President.
A corrupt Washington establishment will not change itself. Only the voters can change Washington!
PS. If we started drilling for oil 10 years ago we would be producing millions of barrels of domestic cheap oil for our use.
I've been mulling over a way to finance a portion of Mr. Sandalow's ideas, specifically his proposition to stimulate the production of plug-in electric vehicles through business incentives, tax credits, a federal battery guarantee program, etc. All of these things will cost large sums of money.
So here's my idea for financing a portion of this plug-in effort. Rather than raise taxes or incur additional debt, SELL SOME OF THE OIL FROM THE STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE!! Selling just 10% of the 700 million barrels we already have in reserve will generate over $6 billion on the open market. That money could be directed by the US President and a willing Congress to the Department of Energy to finance the plug-in vehicle effort.
Why use the SPR? Well, because successful stimulation of plug-in electric car use will ultimately lower the need for oil reserves, especially if Americans have the ability to fill up on electrons instead of relying solely on hydrocarbons. And if Mr. Sandalow is correct, and his solutions would ultimately lead to an end of imported foreign oil, then what would be the point of having the SPR? It would be best to leverage the value of the SPR now (at around $90 a barrel) to fund such an effort. Oh yeah, just so you know, our government right now is spending several billion dollars to expand the SPR further to 1.5 billion barrels. This money would be better spent electrifying transportation in the US than adding just a few more days of oil in our reserves for that big day when a major oil shock happens.
Love to expand more on this idea....so I'll try to participate tomorrow, if Mr. Sandalow and others would like to hear more about why the SPR should be used as a financing mechanism.
> I once heard we could cut oil dependence by a
> really dramaticly significant margin if we insisted
> Detroit produce more efficient cars.
The problem with this is that if we conserve or lower
our demand, OPEC just lowers the supply to inflict the
same amoung of pain, and we are back where we
started.
The thing that might increase supply, and take the
ability to choke oil supply down is if we made all US
automobiles flex-fuel capable, thereby opening up
the fuel market to underdeveloped countries in the
tropics to grow things like sugarcane and make and
export ethanol. This could put the fuel market up
for competition - temporaily and buy us time to
figure out what to do permanently, as well as to
reform in fighting the war on terror, mostly a way
on Middle East Oil producing Islamic expansionist
tyrants.
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I am intrigued by the format of "Freedom from Oil". You wrote the book as a series of White House memos between a future President and his advisors. The format gives the reader an interesting insight into how policy is fashioned.
Are you writing from experience?
Let's see...I'm a father of three, live in Washington, DC and have always loved the out-of-doors and travel. Most important for the question you're asking, I worked in the White House in the mid-1990s on the staffs of the National Security Council and Council on Environmental Quality. I drew on that experience in writing this book.
For the benefit of those who have not read "Freedom from Oil", would you please summarize the recommendations in the book that lay out a Presidential Plan for ending oil dependence?
1. Is Mr. Sanadalow working directly with any of the presidential candidates on the issue of US oil dependence?
2. Has there been any response from the current white house administration about Mr. Sandalow's book?
We have a vast infrastructure for generating electricity in this country, but it does us very little good in terms of getting off of oil. (Oil provides more than 96% of the energy in our cars and trucks, but less than 3% of the energy for our electricity.) To get off of oil, we need to get millions of plug-in hybrid cars out on the road, soon.
To do that, I propose:
-- half the 65,000 cars bought each year by the federal government be plug-ins
-- tax credits of $8000 for the first million plug-ins sold
-- major new federal research on battery technologies, and
-- the next President should announce that, within 9 months, all cars he or she drive in will be plug-in flex-fuel hybrids
"I would love to know what David Sandalow would offer the president for that speech on overcoming our dependence on oil."
But the United States uses almost 25% of the world's oil and has 3% of global reserves. Producing oil in Saudi Arabia is much cheaper than in the US. The only way to solve our oil dependence is to build cars and trucks that take fuel other than petroleum.
We consider that normal. We grew up with it, as did our parents and grandparents. But it's fundamentally abnormal to have a global transportation system that relies utterly on one commodity. That's the fundamental problem.
First, Tom Friedman had a line that's especially appropriate on this election day. He said it's more important to change your leaders than your light bulbs. I think changing your light bulbs (to efficient comact flourescent bulbs) is important, but all of us (Democrats, Republicans and Independents) should insist that our elected representatives at all levels make this a priority. Ask about it at candidate forums. Write letters. It really makes a difference.
Second, talk to car dealers about this. Car dealer networks have lots of influence in the auto industry. They need to hear that people want clean, fuel-efficient cars.
Third, see if your community can follow the path of Reynolds, Indiana, which I write about in the book. Reynolds is a town of 547 people that's wants to use only renewable energy. Their work is very exciting.
om another note, how do you see the industry shifting towards more PHEV's and EV's in the face of a recession. Do you even see it as economically possible to make such a massive corporate shift in a time of such economic downfall in the industry?
thanks for your time,
Nick
Question: Do citizens put enough emphasis on expecting or supporting this type of leadership?
With oil companies wielding so much power in this nation (and in the world) what role do the companies have to play in moving toward the goal (i.e., switching from the oil based energy platforms)?
There is the obvious confilct there between the Oil Companies' business (harvesting and selling oil) and the Needs of the nation (to get off oil) and the Needs of the world (dealing with Human Induced Climate Change). T
The shear size of the Oil Business and the associated Power that goes along with the Oil Business makes it impossible not to consider the Changes Needed without considering the Role and Intentions of the Oil Companies...
What do you see their roles to be and what do you think the actions they are taking say about their actual intentions?
Perhaps the 1980s. In the 1970s, the United States mobilized to address this problem in the face of two enormous oil price shocks. We passed legislation to improve the fuel efficiency of our vehicles and moved to reduce oil dependence in other sectors as well. But in the 1980s oil prices dropped and we stopped paying attention.
By the way, I drove a plug-in around Washington, DC for three months this fall. It was fantastic! When they're on the market, everyone will want them.
1. Is Mr. Sanadalow working directly with any of the presidential candidates on the issue of US oil dependence?
2. Has there been any response from the current white house administration about Mr. Sandalow's book? and,
3. Do you see any fatal flaws with my idea of selling a portion of our SPR to fund plug-in intiatives? (more detailed explanation above).
Thanks David.
-Brian
Good questions, Folks!!
Thank you David for being with us today. Much appreciated!
Now those in voting states, go out and vote!