Hawai‘i is facing a triple whammy of declining world oil supplies.
The net energy left over from our efforts to produce that oil is decreasing as it becomes more difficult to get.
We are near to, or maybe past, the peak of world oil production.
Past the peak, we face a steady decline in net energy on top of the decline in gross volume. In addition, oil-exporting countries will need to divert oil to subsidize their own populations, or their politicians will get thrown out of office.
Hello Chris,
I have watched several of your videos and read much from your http://www.chrismartenson.com website.
The information you give is very interesting. However, you seem to overlook one very important factor in your 3 Es analysis. Namely, conservation.
Much of your analysis seems to assume that world consumption of energy will continue at present levels or even progressively increase. Thus, giving a gap between supply and demand. Granted, the emerging economies are currently increasingly putting extra energy demand into this equation. But, how long can the present situation last?
I would be really interested to hear your views on how we, as individuals and as a community, can lessen our dependence on energy.
Here in Madeira we are ever more environmentally conscious. Funchal, our capital city, has already introduced some [very limited] electrically powered public transport. We are also aware that we need to increase our production of solar energy, mostly by increasing small scale solar panel take-up and solar water heaters. We also have new wind farms being built all the time.
I believe that in Germany and Britain, generous government subsidies exist to encourage the take-up of micro-generation schemes by individual households.
Certainly, alternative means of energy generation are a long way from meeting a significant proportion of the world’s energy needs, but as the oil price increases, the alternatives will begin to look more attractive.
Being an island almost totally dependent upon its tourists, many here in Madeira are now beginning to understand that our continuing prosperity depends on a solution to the rapidly deteriorating situation of the oil based world economy.
Please consider giving some thought to the issues of conservation and alternative energy sources as I’m sure many would appreciate your opinions.