Peak Oil

Jim Baldauf and Steve Andrews from ASPO-USA joined us today to discuss and educate the public about our global energy supply. Peak oil is the peak of the oils production within a nation. In the U.S. this finite resource took peak in 1970, and began an eventual decline ever since. Peak oil doesn't mean that we are out of oil. It's more of an indication that we are at a halfway point, and should begin saving oil for things that require oil, things that only oil can do.

ASPO-USA assures us that the general trend line for oil prices will continue to be higher. And substitutions from conventional oil will always cost more. With 86 million barrels of petroleum liquids used per day, what can we do to help ourselves through this reliance on inexpensive fossil fuels? Today we are consuming three barrels for every one barrel discovered. Even with smarter drilling techniques, offshore drilling is considered a bad idea by Baldauf and Andrews. It is very expensive, and uncertain because of difficulties predicting how much oil is down there. In the future ASPO-USA say we need to think about efficiency first and foremost.

One great question asked today was, Do we have the time to shift our systems of transportation before it's too late? See The Hirsch Report for further information about our energy uncertainties.

Visit the ASPO-USA conference this September in Sacramento to learn more.

Thank You,

Olana & Deborah