What will happen when the oil is gone?
Fuel and energy consumption is growing exponentially. Governments and corporations seem to be unwilling to make plans for the near term or for reducing consumption and long range plans for developing alternative fuel and power. So, this question must be asked, what is the world going to do when the oil runs out and the demand for power surpasses production or becomes so expensive that people cannot afford to drive, use electricity or even maintain industry?
Demand for oil based products is already high and getting higher. Here are some facts that shows in 1998 the consumption growth rate change was 0.8 percent, meaning that consumption grew 0.8 percent over the previous year. The following year, 1999, consumption grew 1.7 percent. It was estimated that the growth rate for 2000 would be 2.4 percent. These figures show that consumption is growing exponentially. As a result, soon prices will sky rocket. Debt will increase as people struggle to pay for even the basic necessities. When all is said and done, bankruptcy will be the word of the day.
Individual desires for large, fuel guzzling vehicles, household appliances, and other gadgetry will only fuel this crisis more, as auto makers and other manufacturers design and build according to what consumers buy. Mr. William Clay Ford, Jr. is interpreted saying, by Danny Hakim of the New York Times on April 18th, 2004 in the article “A Fuel-Saving Proposal From Your Automaker: Tax the gas”, “customers want bigger and faster Cars… not efficient ones.” So long as consumers buy, thereby demanding, auto and appliance makers will fight regulation and continue to assist in increasing the overall demand for energy and fuel. The Bush Administration supports this in its National Energy Policy by stating that “over the next 20 years, U.S. oil consumption will increase by 33 percent, natural gas…by 50 percent, and electricity…by 45 percent.”
As a result of the afore mentioned analysis the Administration plans to increase domestic production of even more oil, gas, and coal, further increasing the depletion of the reserves. But on the bright side, the Administration does propose using more diverse power sources such as hydropower, nuclear power and other non-hydro renewable sources currently at hand. However, they make no provision for transportation, except to increase oil production.
We, the world, need to figure out a reasonable but fast solution. Otherwise, we could experience a regression to a pre-industrial society.
Demand for oil based products is already high and getting higher. Here are some facts that shows in 1998 the consumption growth rate change was 0.8 percent, meaning that consumption grew 0.8 percent over the previous year. The following year, 1999, consumption grew 1.7 percent. It was estimated that the growth rate for 2000 would be 2.4 percent. These figures show that consumption is growing exponentially. As a result, soon prices will sky rocket. Debt will increase as people struggle to pay for even the basic necessities. When all is said and done, bankruptcy will be the word of the day.
Individual desires for large, fuel guzzling vehicles, household appliances, and other gadgetry will only fuel this crisis more, as auto makers and other manufacturers design and build according to what consumers buy. Mr. William Clay Ford, Jr. is interpreted saying, by Danny Hakim of the New York Times on April 18th, 2004 in the article “A Fuel-Saving Proposal From Your Automaker: Tax the gas”, “customers want bigger and faster Cars… not efficient ones.” So long as consumers buy, thereby demanding, auto and appliance makers will fight regulation and continue to assist in increasing the overall demand for energy and fuel. The Bush Administration supports this in its National Energy Policy by stating that “over the next 20 years, U.S. oil consumption will increase by 33 percent, natural gas…by 50 percent, and electricity…by 45 percent.”
As a result of the afore mentioned analysis the Administration plans to increase domestic production of even more oil, gas, and coal, further increasing the depletion of the reserves. But on the bright side, the Administration does propose using more diverse power sources such as hydropower, nuclear power and other non-hydro renewable sources currently at hand. However, they make no provision for transportation, except to increase oil production.
We, the world, need to figure out a reasonable but fast solution. Otherwise, we could experience a regression to a pre-industrial society.
posted by Luke at 3:06 PM
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