Tuesday, March 15, 2005

Peak oil sneaks onto the floor of the Congress

Yesterday, two Maryland congressmen gave an extended tutorial on peak oil to their colleagues. This is the first time I know of that the issue has been taken seriously by any federal legislators. It's worth noting that both congressmen, Wayne Gilchrest and Roscoe Bartlett, are Republicans. While they may seem to be playing against type, it does show that understanding the gravity of our energy dilemma as framed by the impending peak in world oil production makes party labels irrelevant. Once you understand the problem and its proximity in time, the solution coalesces: massive conservation to stretch out what fossil fuel resources we have, massive government investment in alternative energy that is environmentally benign, a complete reorientation of agriculture and an emphasis on gradual population reduction.

(Via Global Public Media.)

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