Scott Tinker, State Geologist of Texas and current president of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists told the State Geologists meeting in Houston this morning that the concept of energy independence is "naive." Scott's point is that energy security is a very different approach and the one that is more important.
Scott foresees energy security coming from more energy efficiency, diversity, and interdependence. He argues for increased trade, not a decrease of energy trade. In fact, he sees this is as the opposite of independence. Greater dialogue among government, industry, and academia, although "naive and simplistic" is needed to address interdependence.
On another topic, Scott is meeting with NSF officers about the petroleum industry providing funding for science research that would be handled by NSF through their normal grant process. This is an innovative concept and possibly precedent-setting.