Oil Peak

The U.S. population and the nation's infrastructure is heavily petroleum dependent. The U.S. peaked in oil production (extraction) in 1971. The world may be peaking now, as some evidence indicates, or in a few short years. As a severe energy shortage is on tap as soon as the gap between supply and demand is felt by the market, and the Earth gives noticeably less oil than just recently, there will be a cascade of impacts on the economy and people's lives.

The fall of the U.S. may be the swiftest empire collapse in world history. It is obvious that the U.S. population and the nation's infrastructure is heavily petroleum dependent. The U.S. peaked in oil production (extraction) in 1971. The world may be peaking now, as some evidence indicates, or in a few short years. As a severe energy shortage is on tap as soon as the gap between supply and demand is felt by the market, and the Earth gives noticeably less oil than just recently, there will be a cascade of impacts on the economy and people's lives. Published on 18 Jun 2005 by Culture Change. Archived on 27 Jun 2005.
End-Time for U.S.A. Upon Oil Collapse - A scenario for a sustainable future
by Jan Lundberg http://www.energybulletin.net/6933.html

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER EDITORIAL BOARD http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/231850_energyed.asp recently stated.

There's more evidence that the world's oil supply is shrinking. Last week, Saudi officials told The Financial Times newspaper that the gap between demand and oil production is growing wider. The Saudis said if trends continue it will become "extremely difficult" for current producers to pump enough oil to meet demand over the next 10 or 15 years.
The United States still needs a transformative energy policy, one that moves consumers away from oil. People have already been doing this by purchasing hybrids and fuel-efficient vehicles, but we can do more just by shifting our focus toward less oil consumption, instead of oil production.

There are already technological innovations that show how a plug-in hybrid car could reach 500 miles per gallon of gasoline. Similar ventures demonstrate the potential for hydrogen, ethanol and other alternative fuels.

But the first step toward energy independence is the recognition that the world's oil supply will soon decline. And it's about time: The price of oil -- hanging around $60 a barrel -- is a reason alone to shift to a 21st century fuel.