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April 17, 2005
First Step to Oil Addiction: Recognition of Addiction
Ed Park, local energy forecaster and fellow Democrat, has sent me links about growing urgency in energy markets, specifically about serious worries over rapid oil depletion as prices and consumption rise. Of course, you already knew that we were in trouble, but did you know that the guys who've been avoiding "apocalyptic" predictions because of profit-oriented hubris are now really worried? You know, the guys at the top of the corporate food chain? Well, they have a lot to worry about, as do we, since most of our economy is based on petro.
So here are a few critical links Ed Park sent me. They address new observations about peak production and other developments:
1. Staring down the barrel. This one will make your head spin with quotes from scientists and CEOs in the industry. And since Russia holds the cards on oil (it is now the largest oil producer in the world), how do we proceed?
2. International Energy Agency predicts acute oil shortage. Here's a disturbing or exciting excerpt (depending on how you view it): The measures, suggested by IEA, include the reduction of a working week, a ban on using privately owned vehicles, the introduction of a 90-kilometre speed limit, the reduction of public transport fare and the encouragement of staff members to work at home, using Internet.
3. A call for risk management. It probably doesn't help that Americans have about 210 million cars, SUVs, vans, and light trucks on the road every day. Okay, let's be honest. Yeah, it's insane. We're addicted to oil.
READ MORE ABOUT ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY AT THE DAILY BAILOUT
Posted by wjbailes at April 17, 2005 07:58 AM
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Comments
Freaky. I'm still not convinced we have an iminent crisis, but being so ignorant about when peak production might occur...scary.
Posted by: Tyler Grisham at April 17, 2005 07:15 PM