Energy (Peak Oil)

This is probably the single largest issue facing us right now.  The abundance of cheap oil that we've enjoyed for so long is what has allowed our dysfunctional economy to function as it has for so long.  Peak oil goes hand in hand with the economic turbulence we've been experiencing.  And it's not going to get better.

The other day I overheard a conversation.  Person 1 says "peak oil isn't real."  Person 2 says "yeah, I know."  Person 3 (me) almost chokes.  It's such a simple observation, but many want to deny it.  Is our planet (or any resource on our planet) infinite?  No.  Then peak oil is a real phenomenon.  Period, that's it, end of discussion.  The only discussion can be when does it get here.  If you ask me I'd say it's pretty obvious we are there right now.  But to say peak oil isn't real...wow, good luck with that as one of your world views.

Peak oil doesn't mean we've pumped and burned every last drop of oil on the planet.  Indeed, we will never get to that point.  There will always be some oil left, somewhere.  Peak oil is the halfway point, the tipping point.  Since our entire economy and lifestyle is built around cheap, abundant oil, once we get to the halfway point, a whole world of hurt begins to open up.  We're seeing it now, in case you weren't sure.  The shortages and gas lines will appear in the not too distant future.  

Peak oil is the point in which oil production cannot be increased anymore.  It doesn't matter if we reach that point due to economic or geologic constraints, the end result is the same - we're fucked.  Nothing short of an energy miracle will save us; none of the myriad alternative energies (which is a misnomer, they really are petroleum-derivative energies) can be ramped up in time to save us from the fate that awaits us. 

Check out this photo, and as amazing as it is, just think about the massive amount of energy this requires:

Yes, I realize that oil actually provides very little of our electricity.  This photo is to help illustrate the extreme dependence we have on energy.  So what happens if we roll out a fleet of electric cars, tomorrow.  Think that's going to help?   What would that do to peak coal?  Marcellus shale may indeed be a game changer as far as peak natural gas, but at what cost?  Peak Uranium, anybody?  Oh, maybe the much ballyhooed Bakken formation will save us.  Maybe (probably) not.

Think wind power can be ramped up in time?  Solar?   Geothermal?  Think we can roll out a fleet of NG powered cars/trucks/trains in a reasonable amount of time? 

Please, stop thinking of it as "alternative energy."  There is no such beast, they're all derivative energies, derived from our cheap and easy to get energy sources.  As you can see, the cheap and easies are going away much too quickly for there to be any hope for a widespread shift.  Maybe if we'd have started massive new energy initiatives about thirty years ago we would have had a shot at getting to a point where this would allow the continuation of Business As Usual, but not now - now we're screwed.    At this point it would take an energy miracle to get unscrewed.  

I hope my thoughts got your attention.  There is a myriad of information out there from people much more knowledgeable than I.

Here's a great primer, a neat article, a concise three video series and a forum that I urge you to check out.

I highly recommend watching the three video series to begin with.

Good luck.