Earth Day fossil fuels message: ‘The party is over’

DARTMOUTH


Mr. Heinberg has authored several books; among the titles is “The Party’s Over: Oil, War and the Fate of Industrial Societies.”

“U.S. energy policy is clearly failing,” he said, and the only “sensible” energy policy for the nation and world is to “discourage fossil fuel consumption.” He said the government at all levels should be encouraging conservation, renewable sources, research for alternatives to fossil fuels and replacement of the nation’s infrastructure to accommodate energy-saving changes.

He talked of unprecedented economic, social and political impacts if the United States continues on the path it is following that will lead to a national crisis worse than the Great Depression or World War II.

As for skeptics who doubt the seriousness of the energy problem, he suggests they and others will understand after an “economic crash.” He said it would not be surprising to him that the U.S. would fail to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and traditional energy sources until forced to.

South Coast Today