Planning for Depletion | Green Energy News

July 4, 2004 – Vol.9 No.15

PLANNING FOR DEPLETION.

The U.S., and probably most nations, has no established plans - no list of instructions - to deal with the depletion of natural resources. Historically, we’ve dealt with the inevitable problem by using our economic might to seek new sources of raw materials from other areas of the globe when our domestic supplies have run low.

Once - not many decades ago - we were a exporter of crude oil. Now we are heavily dependent on imports.

Not so long ago our domestic supplies of natural gas were enough for our own needs. Now natural gas imports are part of our economy.

So what happens when the global supply of resources begins to run out and the U.S. and other economic powerhouses can no longer simply buy the resources elsewhere? Where is the plan to deal with global depletion?

Some are so concerned about the world’s diminishing oil supplies that they’re willing to take the time, the effort and money to publish their concerns and possible plans to deal with the problem.

One of these is retired engineer, farmer and part-time historian John Howe. He’s published an easy-to-read, easy-to-understand book - The End of Fossil Energy and A Plan for Sustainability.

The book, based mostly on the work of Dr. Colin Campbell and the Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas (ASPO), lays out in understandable terms how energy is defined and used. Then he moves on to his Plan for Sustainability to immediately cut back on the use of oil (in particular) to save remaining supplies for future generations.

The Plan itself is unlikely to be implemented because it would require extraordinary political will that is not present today in our governmental system. (That will power is unlikely unless there is a political sea-change all the way from state capitals to the nation’s.) However, the Plan, as well as the book itself, is worth reading to give a better understanding of the extent at which we’ve become overly reliant on oil to keep our economy moving. The Plan too could be a basis for more thought and discussion.

In criticism Howe generally leaves the subject of coal and nuclear power alone. Coal for instance, as the author notes, has severe environmental problems. True enough, but abundant supplies will keep electricity flowing in the U.S for some time to come. We won’t be starved for electricity, mostly just transportation fuels and petrochemicals; a major part of our economy of course.

The author, a reader of this publication, has kindly offered subscribers copies of The End of Fossil Energy for only $5.00 (as long as supplies last.) Purchase the book directly from him at Howe Engineering Co., 298 McIntire Road, Waterford, Maine 04088. (Mention you’re an ENERGIES reader.)

For more information visit McIntire Publishing Services http://www.mcintirepublishing.com/ . Click Illustrator.