Legal Research

Peak Oil

By RGault

We are hearing an increasing number of references to "peak oil," the theory that we have reached the point where, because oil is a finite resource, production will begin to decline and the cost of extracting oil will increase.  The theory does not say that oil production will stop abruptly, but that decreasing supply coupled with increasing demand is likely to cause economic and social disruption. Useful nonpartisan websites for more information include the international Association for the Study of Peak Oil & Gas, the ASPO-USA,  EnergyBulletin, and the Peak Oil webpage set up by Congressmen Tom Udall (D-NM) and Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD).    Not everyone is taking the prospect calmly.  The introductory page at Life After the Oil Crash,the website of Hastings Law grad Matt Savinar, begins, "Civilization as we know it is coming to an end soon."

Posted by Robin Gault

Full post as published by FSU College of Law Library Blog on March 24, 2006 (boomark / email).