Peak Oil

The peaking of production in liquid fuels and other energy sources in the near future will reshape our everyday lives. It will profoundly affect our community most in the areas of sustenance, transportation, land use, housing, and municipal services. We must all begin now to build other, more resilient supports for our common life. These supports will consist of understandings, agreements, assumptions, physical structures, and cultural practices that will recognize lower energy availability not as a problem, but as an opportunity and a condition to which we must adapt ourselves individually and collectively.
- Bloomington Peak Oil Taskforce
Redefining Prosperity: Energy Descent and Community Resilience

It feels as if it has only been a short time since the dollar gallon of gas, streets full of Hummer SUVs, and never ending supplies of oil were running rampant in this country. In fact, I remember when I first started driving; I could fill up my 16 gallon tank for about $15.50. What we see nowadays is a far cry from the past. The growing knowledge of peak oil, has such accentuated the desires for this commodity that anyone still committed to their Hummer is most likely spending $50 on a trip across town.

It is no question that we as a country and planet, dependent on petroleum, should be concerned about peak oil. When the oil production begins to decline the exorbitant prices for oil, and general scarcity which will occur, will greatly change our lives if not carefully planned for ahead of time. If not carefully addressed, peak oil could make personal transportation a luxury, greatly deplete national energy reserves, and effects many everyday products. The price of the myriad of products made with oil/petroleum will cease to become affordable, and that is only on a personal level. Nationally it could strongly affect the economy as well as create violent resource wars over the waning amount of product. There is a strong feeling in the scientific community that we could see peak oil within the next 15-20 years, however if demand for oil shrinks along with supply it could greatly reduce the effects of peak oil.



That is why it is integral to set up community commissions, because to really have an effect changes need to occur at both personal levels (driving less, consuming less plastics, reducing power usage) and community levels (more efficient and increased public transportation, promoting larger bicycle populations, converting to sustainable energy sources). By increasing the social capital, equity, and knowledge of a community, it will be even easier to make transitions. Coming up with smart solutions, and eliciting civicminded peoples to bring about change could very well hold off peak oil. However, it is inevitable that we as a planet will inevitably use up our oil supplies, so even if changes are made, suitable substitutions will eventually be required for petroleum based technologies and products.