Turning Oil Into Salt: Energy Independence Through Fuel Choice [Paperback]

Anne Korin (Author), Gal Luft (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 8, 2009

Throughout history the pursuit of strategic commodities has governed world affairs. Centuries ago salt enjoyed a monopoly over food preservation, and securing access to the white mineral shaped the great empires' international behavior. Today, it is oil that monopolizes our transportation system giving those who control it inordinate power on the world stage. Breaking the oil cartel and oil's monopoly over transportation fuel is the only way to bring about energy independence, insulate our economy against future oil shocks and win the war on radical Islam, argue two of America's leading energy security advocates Gal Luft and Anne Korin in Turning Oil into Salt: Energy Independence Through Fuel Choice. Energy independence is not about the amount of oil we use or import; it's about turning oil from a strategic commodity second to none to just another commodity. In an unvarnished and lucid manner Luft and Korin chart a realistic way to do so while addressing the barriers on the road.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A small masterpiece -- right on the money both strategically and technically, witty, far-sighted, and barbeques a number of sacred cows. Absolutely do not miss this." --R. James Woolsey, Former CIA Director

"The book is going to become the Bible for everyone who is serious about energy and national security." --Robert C. McFarlane, Former U.S. National Security Advisor

About the Author

Gal Luft and Anne Korin are two of America’s leading energy independence advocates. They are co-directors of the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security (IAGS) and founders of the Set America Free Coalition, a bipartisan alliance of national security, religious, business and environmental groups promoting U.S. energy independence. They have published numerous articles and studies on energy security, appeared before committees of the U.S. Congress and have advised members of congress, presidential candidates, media outlets and think tanks worldwide. They are co-authors of Energy Security Challenges for the 21st Century.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: BookSurge Publishing (September 8, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439248478
• ISBN-13: 978-1439248478
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #254,236 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not alchemy, but rather making oil as "un-strategic" as salt, March 5, 2010

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G. Stelzenmuller - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Turning Oil Into Salt: Energy Independence Through Fuel Choice (Paperback)

This book packs more crucial information on our national fuel and energy problem than any other this reviewer has seen yet. In a surprisingly short space (124 pages) the authors make their arguments articulately and convincingly. That means: with plenty of evidence to back up their themes and claims. The title line simply means that oil has become the premier strategic material in the world today, and we should aim to make oil an un-strategic commodity, as what happened with salt 100 years ago. For eons salt had been a strategic material, mainly for preserving food, thus people and countries have fought vigorously for its control. Mainly because refrigeration has become the main way to store and transport food since the early 20th century, salt has declined to UN-strategic status. Oil is strategic today because there is no alternative for most of its uses, yet.

Most everything we buy involves a choice. This is not so at the gas station. Gasoline is currently an oil product, the raw material of which is mostly imported. The plug-in electric vehicle (PHEV) could increase the MPG per gallon gasoline equivalent (mpgg) to over 100 mpgg. But the real difference will be made with the flex-fuel PHEV, which can run on many power sources, and with gasoline and several kinds of alcohols, which in turn can be made from many biological sources. These sources, also, need not compete in any heavy way with food production. The key to all this necessarily will be making the combustion and exhaust systems in the automobile sturdy enough to burn alcohols. The author estimates this improvement would only cost about $100 per car. Even at $200, this is a superior solution.

The necessary law that must be passed by Congress is the Open Fuel Standard, which has both House and Senate bills already considered. As above, this move would be "lightly borne by industry," as libertarian economists state it, and open the way to reducing the importance of oil trade. This in turn causes the largest benefit of making "oil into salt": vastly improved national security, and increased world economic prosperity. Until about 15% of our cars are flex-fuel, though, station owners will not be able to economically convert part of their facility to alcohols. Automakers have very often stated that they could indeed make half of their autos flex-fueled, say the authors. Get this most interesting and informative book, and a be treated to the last part where Luft and Korin opine that lithium may become the new strategic material, once electric-capable autos make their heavy debut!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Irritating, but productively provocative, December 6, 2009

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peopleandresources (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Turning Oil Into Salt: Energy Independence Through Fuel Choice (Paperback)

At a slim 124 pages, it's a quick read. And while I was often frustrated by the polemical style of their argument, and sometimes by the substance as well, there were a lot of good ideas and I think reading it would be time well spent for anyone interested in energy.

Their overall thesis of "fuel choice" as the key to energy independence is compelling, and they are quite knowledgeable about the energy space. Their proposal rests on two pillars - flex-fuel vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. I found their argument for flex-fuel vehicles strong, but their case that the cost of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles will fall dramatically rested on some very hopeful assumptions about the future. Flex-fuel plug-in hybrids would be great, but if they remain too expensive they won't be adopted on a broad scale.

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Insight, but Short, November 14, 2009

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T. Kraemer (Dix Hills, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Turning Oil Into Salt: Energy Independence Through Fuel Choice (Paperback)

This book presents some very interesting new perspectives on the importance of US oil independence. It's right up to date, even discussing such projects as the Chevrolet Volt. The book is more balanced than many on this subject. It comes to the same conclusion as such others as Energy Victory: that we must get America off dependence on foreign oil as quickly as possible. When you consider that in the last month (October 2009)our exports increased by 3% but our trade deficit increased by 18% because of oil price increases the reason is obvious. OPEC is draining our capital. My one regret is that the book is relatively short. Still it's packed with interesting information. If you're concerned about our balance of trade and homeland security it's a must read.