R. James Woolsey maintains that a national fleet of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles would largely end U.S. dependence on oil.
Image: ERIKA LARSEN Redux Pictures
At R. James Woolsey’s farm in southern Maryland, solar panels on the roof of his house send electricity back to the utility grid when his family is not using much power. And he drives a Toyota Prius hybrid with a conversion kit that enables him to recharge the car’s battery pack using an extension cord and household current.
Woolsey isn’t the average citizen who has gone green. As the former director of the Central Intelligence Agency from 1993 to 1995, Woolsey warns that the U.S. faces a grave national security threat from its dependence on energy derived from oil. “I think we need to go right for oil’s jugular vein,” he says.
See what we're tweeting about
19 Comments
Add CommentYou can get all the oil you want from us. After all, after Saudi Arabia, the Alberta Tar Sands has the second highest proven reserves in the world. The hundreds of billions of dollars companies are spending up there must be for a good reason.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisGet the oil from us. We are your friends remember?
Any dependence on exhaustible supply of energy and that too not your own is a security risk sooner or later! The latest innovation which has taken place in USA, "Gravity Power Towers" ( US Patent appn.12184151 dt 07/31/2008) provides 70% of energy requirements in transportation with linearly oscillating characteristic. In fact USA with investment of $ 150 b can add energy equivalent of 8m barrels of oil per day with gravity power and it is eternal and environmental friendly! Oil fields have limited life! ( ref: http://gravitypoweredtransport.blogspot.com)
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisOne thing that this article does not discuss is the originating source of the electricity to power these plug-in hybrids.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIn some parts of the country, oil products are used as the power element for electrical generation stations. How is that more secure and effective than using oil directly in cars? In other parts of the country, we use hydroelectric power instead - that is much more energy independent.
We must fully address both the use of oil in transportation and the use of oil in power generation before we can be assured of full energy independence.
One thing that this article does not discuss is the originating source of the electricity to power these plug-in hybrids.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIn some parts of the country, oil products are used as the power element for electrical generation stations. How is that more secure and effective than using oil directly in cars? In other parts of the country, we use hydroelectric power instead - that is much more energy independent.
We must fully address both the use of oil in transportation and the use of oil in power generation before we can be assured of full energy independence.
So, it is safe to say, that the current administrations policies have been and are a threat to national security?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisJimmy Carter realized this in the 1970's and started energy tax and research initiatives back then. Imagine where we would be today if that had continued and had not been canceled by R. Reagan?
The political right-wing hes greatly endangered this country while pursuing extreme wealth and power.
Quinidog,
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWhy don't they just make friends with all the countries? Hire someone to teach them how; they have lots of money for the rich.
quinidog,
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThey should try to make friends with the whole world. If they don't know how they should hire someone to teach them; it shouldn't cost too much. They have lots of money for the rich, haven't they?
Sorry, that should be: queenidog.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWhat a bunch of nonsense...Clinton and Gore were in office for 8 years, what did they do? Stop pointing fingers.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe US government needs to release the confiscated and top secret free energy machines developed by Tesla. But that would revolutionise the world, and the 5 or 6 men who run everything will never allow that. Think I'm kidding? Look up Jane's aviation week and Space Technology to see the kinds of declassied technology being used in the B2 bomber that was developed by Tesla, i.e. electrostatic propulsion... (hint, hint)
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI live in Alberta, where the tar sands are located. We have the second largest proven reserves in the world and are friends - best friends- with the United States. In fact, in Calgary, the biggest city, there are more re-located Americans living and working here than anywhere else in the world other than in the military. We want to sell oil to the USA but there are government and private groups that don't want our "dirty" oil, dirty because there is some CO2 generation during refining. So, what do we do? Well, some of the big players up there are Chinese, Japanese and French -they want the oil.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisExcept that the oil from Alberta has grave environmental costs. The oil sands are at best a temporary solution, a stop gap, and hopefully most will be left in the ground.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIt is very rare any more that power plants use anything other than natural gas, coal or nuclear energy as fuel sources. Some may still have the ability to switch to fuel oil if their supplies of natural gas or coal are curtailed somehow. That's why I don't understand the politicians constantly making the connection between alternative energy sources for electricity and a commensurate reduction in oil demand. Oil demand is mainly based on transportation methods.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThere are some people and some religions who refuse to be friends with ANYONE who doesn't follow their religion. You know, like the catholics and southern baptist convention church peoples here in the U. S.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisMy question is....how ya gonna stop the greedy oil companies and their cronies from sabatoging any new forms of energy that would be cheaper than their bloody oil?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAppreciate your political leanings, however, our return to oil has far more to do with our purchasing decisions as consumers rather than a vast right wing conspiracy. It is far more basic economics than political intrigue. That's why I am excited as I see alternative energies reaching parity with oil in the next decade.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWoosley for President at least a cabinet position!! He gets it. I fear Obama only gets it during the debates. His record points the other direction. If he is president which course will he take? Who Knows?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI work for a community owned electric utility so I'm not exactly neutral.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisUntil we find a power source that is as cheap as fossil fuels and is also safer environmentally, we are not going to solve the problem. Solar has devestating byproducts, wind is costly and unreliable, nuclear produces vast amounts of waste that cannot be rendered harmless. Even hydro has limited potential and does eco damage in initial construction and has the risk of collapse causing huge loss of life. Geothermal as a power source is limited and may cause earthquakes when artificially created.
Power conservation is the best bet to buy us the time to find a real solution. Although, switch grass based ethanol shows some real promise.
vasbinde said, "One thing that this article does not discuss is the originating source of the electricity to power these plug-in hybrids."
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe print or hard copy of this article shows a photo of the roof on Woolsey's
home which has photovoltaic panels he had installed. There was also a picture of his Prius, equipped with an "A123 Systems" plug-in battery package, which he charges off the solar. The man walks his talk.