Richard Heinberg, a Senior Fellow of Post Carbon Institute [1], knows that energy-from-oil is connected to everything else that we do. That is why we are facing a monumental change in our economy within the next few years. And we are not prepared in the least.
What can we expect? Here’s Heinberg’s opinion, [2] from an article he entitles “Dress Rehearsal”:
When the next supply crunch comes, we could well see prices of $200, $250, or $300. But again, the rise won’t be steady and unending; we will again see a spike followed by a plunge—this time maybe back to $150.
Meanwhile, will oil at $100 be an occasion for sleepwalking or strategic regrouping? For policy makers, this is a time to think clearly about long-term measures to reduce demand pro-actively and support the development of renewable energy sources. For citizens, it is an opportunity to make the effort to change habits, buy a smaller car, and get involved in community Peak Oil prep work . . .
The world has had an unmistakable wake-up call from the global oil alarm clock; merely to press the snooze button would waste what may be our last opportunity to act before necessity makes us react in ways that are less than optimal.
[3]