Sandoval on energy independence: It’s the cars, stupid

Much of this afternoon’s panel discussion on strategic resource challenges has focused on the impact of America’s natural gas boom on the global energy picture. By Assistant Secretary of Energy for Policy and International Affairs David Sandoval cautioned the audience not to think that fracking and pipeline building would lead to an energy-independent America: Increasing ...

By , a former associate editor at Foreign Policy.

Much of this afternoon's panel discussion on strategic resource challenges has focused on the impact of America's natural gas boom on the global energy picture. By Assistant Secretary of Energy for Policy and International Affairs David Sandoval cautioned the audience not to think that fracking and pipeline building would lead to an energy-independent America:

Much of this afternoon’s panel discussion on strategic resource challenges has focused on the impact of America’s natural gas boom on the global energy picture. By Assistant Secretary of Energy for Policy and International Affairs David Sandoval cautioned the audience not to think that fracking and pipeline building would lead to an energy-independent America:

Increasing energy supplies in the United States is extremely important. Reducing our oil important plays all kinds of dividends. Energy independence of the type that’s usually conceived of in the public mind requires something else, which is to change our transportation fleet so it’s no longer as dependent on oil as it is today.

The single most important statistic in the energy world is that 95 percent of the energy used to move our cars and trucks comes from one resource and that’s petroleum. That doesn’t seem odd to us because we all grew up in a world where 95 percent of our cars and trucks and fueled by petroleum and so did our parents and our grandparents. But it is in some ways odd and it has profound geopolitical implications, profound economic implications, and profound environmental implication.

Sandoval highlighted the plug-in hybrid Chevy Volt, as well as vehicles fueled by natural gas and biofuels as potential strategic game changers.

Joshua Keating was an associate editor at Foreign Policy. Twitter: @joshuakeating

More from Foreign Policy

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping give a toast during a reception following their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping give a toast during a reception following their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21.

Can Russia Get Used to Being China’s Little Brother?

The power dynamic between Beijing and Moscow has switched dramatically.

Xi and Putin shake hands while carrying red folders.
Xi and Putin shake hands while carrying red folders.

Xi and Putin Have the Most Consequential Undeclared Alliance in the World

It’s become more important than Washington’s official alliances today.

Russian President Vladimir Putin greets Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Russian President Vladimir Putin greets Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

It’s a New Great Game. Again.

Across Central Asia, Russia’s brand is tainted by Ukraine, China’s got challenges, and Washington senses another opening.

Kurdish military officers take part in a graduation ceremony in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, on Jan. 15.
Kurdish military officers take part in a graduation ceremony in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, on Jan. 15.

Iraqi Kurdistan’s House of Cards Is Collapsing

The region once seemed a bright spot in the disorder unleashed by U.S. regime change. Today, things look bleak.