“Peak Oil” Despair Versus Energy Innovation

The Seattle Times today profiles the group Seattle Peak Oil, which debatably sees a bleak future caused by dwindling world oil supplies.

“We’re probably going to end up with some sort of die-off in the world, of people,” said Rocky Willson, a Seattle Peak Oil Awareness member with an unsettling outlook. “You can look at it like a black box,” said Willson, a foosball-table seller who has taken up gardening. “The oil goes in and creates people. When the oil gets cut off, the people go away.” Other members of the group talk about a financial shock caused by soaring oil prices, followed by something approaching the Great Depression.

In fine Seattle fashion, the group wants to dialog about “the emotional, spiritual and philosophical ramifications of life-altering resource scarcities.” That may yield ambient methane, but developing real energy alternatives take systematic innovation and capital, not vegan potluck hand-wringing.

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