Petroleum Man

We are in a quiet crisis. I just finished reading The Oil Factor by Stephen Leeb and Donna Leeb. This was an informative book that investors may want to look closely at as we approach a very turbulent economic period in the years ahead. But it was this book coupled with Twilight in the Desert: The Coming Saudi Oil Shock and the World Economy
by Matthew R. Simmons that really got me concerned about our future. Both books point to a clear and present danger to the American way of life: Peak Oil.
Peak Oil is a term coined by prescient American geologist M. King Hubbard. He predicted that US oil production would peak in the 1970s. Nobody paid much attention to his ideas until his prediction became reality. Peak Oil is the idea that there is a finite amount of oil in each field and that oil production peaks once half the oil from that field is extracted. In other words every day after that oil production declines until eventually there is none left. Most geologists and experts agree that we are nearing peak oil production globally right now. By the end of the decade we will most likely be in decline.
This, of course, is happening as the world consumes oil in unprecedented amounts. The growing economies of China and India have become big spenders in the world's oil market. This new demand for oil only exacerbates the problem. A good economy is just a catalyst for oil consumption. Historically, the two trends go hand in hand.
What will happen when the oil disappears? Who knows? One thing is for sure though: no more oil. That means our lives will be drastically different and we will endure a period of chaos and cultural change that is unlike anything we have experienced in our lifetime. The oil won't just disappear, but even a small fluctuation in price is enough to cripple our current economy. Just look what the shortage after Katrina did.
So how do we prevent a state of unpreparedness? We prepare. We start looking at alternative energy sources today. Wind, solar, hydro, fission, fusion, nuclear, coal, wood, hydrogen, biodeisel, etc. If the markets are any indicator the trends may look like this: Increased nuclear power, Increased military spending (fighting over what's left), and Increased R&D for alternative energy sources
This search for alternative fuels make so much sense on many levels: Cleaner environment, Safer energy production, Renewable energy sources, less dependency on foreign oil (Middle East), a chance for global leadership, and a better tomorrow. Petroleum Man is a species that has roamed the earth for a relatively short amount of time. With massive planning and a global effort we might be able to save him from extinction before it's too late.