What Is Peak Oil?

In short, Peak Oil is the concept that we may be at or near the fastest rate of oil extraction from the ground that the world will ever see. Check out these sites to see why this affects so much more than just the price of gasoline.

• Wolf at the Door - "For years, the experts have been warning of the dangers of oil depletion. They have been accused of crying wolf. This time, the wolf really is at the door." One of the best primers available on the concept of Peak Oil. Familiarize yourself with the topic quickly by checking out 'THE ESSENTIALS' at the top left of the website's home page.
• WikiPedia - This primer is very detailed and very well organized. Comes with a very nice collection of web links, book and film descriptions, and biographies of the key players and experts. Note that this entry focuses on "Hubbert's Peak" which is just one of dozens of predictions of what the oil peak and decline may look like.
• Hubbert Peak of Oil Production - more background information with links to recent Peak Oil news. Named for the late geophysicist who predicted the US oil peak in 1970.

What can I do about it?

Here are some steps towards sustainability that you can use RIGHT NOW. Check out the Local Groups section below too - this list is just the tip of the iceberg!

• Dynamic Cities Project - "Design, Planning, and Policy for a Changing World". DCP is "a non-profit organization creating energy transition strategies as a proactive response to peak oil and climate change."
• The Community Solution - "What are we going to do as the oil runs out? The solution is in the community." This group is a driving force behind the documentarty film "The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil", whose name speaks for itself.
• Sierra Business Council - a network of businesses promoting the local economy across the Sierra Nevada.
• Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) - When transportation costs spike, chain stores will be the first to close. Learn about this and so many more economic possibilities as we enter the brave new low-energy world.
• American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) - "The threat to our communities is real. The trend of increasing dependence on absentee-owned chains -- with formulas dictating everything from the look of the building to who does the printing to where the money gets deposited -- has unhealthy consequences."
• BuyBlue.org - "BuyBlue.org supports businesses that share our progressive values and ideals. We believe in a triple bottom line: people, planet and profit. BuyBlue.org uses our power as consumers to vote with our wallets, supporting businesses that abide by sustainability, workers' rights, environmental standards, and corporate transparency."
• Local Energy - "Communities becoming energy self-reliant" - based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, this group has been focusing on the ties between energy and local economics, and has completed research on how to create local economic benefits through re-localization of energy.
• Permaculture Activist - "Principles & Patterns for Designing an Abundant Future...Today" While we don't normally link to magazine sites or other ventures, this magazine's web site is full of valuable links to track down Permaculture resources around the world.
• EarthFuture - If you were at last year's PowerPalooza event, you know that Guy Dauncey's message is one of good solutions to the problems we're facing due to Peak Oil, Global Warming, and other issues of the day. This is Guy's web site, full of links, background information, and details on his "Solutions Project".
• How To Compost - "From beginners to experts this web site is designed to be a hub for all composting information. No matter what your interest is, you'll find something here worth you time. Our goal is to be the best resource on the internet for composting information."
• Nevada County Materials Exchange - "NevCoMAX is a free on-line local materials exchange for businesses, non-profits, schools, artists and organizations." Not just for contractors! Think you have to drive to the big city to get what your group needs? Check here first!
• KNCO Swap Shop - "The perfect place to buy, sell, or trade. You'll find what you're looking for!"
• KVMR Flea Market - KVMR radio (our community FM radio station) holds a weekly call-in flea market and swap program, with listings online.
• Local Harvest - A large national database of local food producers and markets. Easy to search and browse using a zoomable map.

Peak Oil and Transportation

How we get around today is spookily dependant on cheap, abundant, readily available oil. These sites begin to address the questions of how we will get around in a low energy future.

• CalCars - Makers of the original PriusPLUS plug-in hybrid, this nonprofit is leading the charge to get the automakers to put plug-in hybrids on the market. Follow this link for updated news items, engineering detials and more.
• Green Car Congress - "Energy, Technologies, Issues and Policies for Sustainable Mobility" - this site is an excellent up-to-date daily newspaper of "Green Car" news from around the world. Biodiesel, E85, PHEV, Low Carbon, Battery Research - follow this link to find all the inspiring and motivational tech talk you can handle!
• Plug-In Partners - "Plug-In Partners is a national grass-roots initiative to demonstrate to automakers that a market for flexible-fuel Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) exists today."

Non-commercial World News

And when you trust your television, What you get is what you got - Cause when they own the information, They can bend it all they want — John Mayer, Waiting on the World to Change

These news sources are not run by US corporations. We Americans are the most under-informed population on the planet when it comes to world events - and it's hard to prepare if your eyes are shut. Check out these web sites to find out for yourself what's really going on, and how we factor in.

• Democracy Now! - Amy Goodman's daily web and radio news program - "pioneering the largest community media collaboration in the U.S." - also try their free daily digest newsletter signup
• Free Speech Radio News - download audio files of daily half hour news programs and documentaries
• Independent Media Center - "The Independent Media Center is a network of collectively run media outlets for the creation of radical, accurate, and passionate tellings of the truth." Links to Independent Media outlets in several cities around the world.
• IndyBay - "The San Francisco Bay Area Independent Media Center is a non-commercial, democratic collective of bay area independent media makers and media outlets, and serves as the local organizing unit of the global Indymedia network."

Energy News, Facts and Figures

This is where the headlines show up and where the numbers come from

• Energy Bulletin - The largest Peak Oil international news clearinghouse on the net. You can sign up for a very high-traffic email list, or browse through very up-to-date news on all types of energy-related topics.
• Renewable Energy Access - This company has created perhaps the single most recognized and trusted source for Renewable Energy News and Information on the Internet. REA also has great access to renewable energy marketing information and product links.
• EIA (US Dept of Energy's Energy Information Administration) - The US Government's energy data and statistics warehouse. More graphs than you could study in a lifetime. Also has an 'International' statistics section.
• IEA (International Energy Agency) - International energy data collection, analysis, and statistics. More graphs than you could study in a lifetime.
• NEW on 7-29-07:National Petroleum Council - 'An Oil and Natural Gas Advisory Committee to the Secretary of Energy'

Online Peak Oil Discussions

See what those in the know around the world are saying right now

• The Oil Drum - "Discussions about energy and our future" - the Oil Drum is a hot frenzies mixture of news and discussion, driven by a group of oil industry experts.
• PeakOil.com - "A community Peak Oil portal" - several very well organized, searchable, very high-traffic discussion forums. One forum gives the opportunity to 'Ask the Experts' - Simmons, Heinberg, Campbell, Kunstler, and others.

Some Local Energy-aware Groups

These local nonprofits have made localization and energy conservation an important part of their message:

• APPT (Alliance for People Powered Transportation) - APPT advocates for bicycle commuting in western Nevada County. Do you really need 2500 pounds of steel and an engine with over 300 moving parts to get to the grocery store?
• Peak Moment Television - "Community Responses for a Changing Energy Future" - find out where to watch or listen to over thirty episodes - on DVD, online, or on cable in western Nevada County - including interviews with some of the big names in the field: Heinberg, Korten, Dauncey, Ruppert, and more.
• Local Food Coalition - "Working together to support local farmers, preserve local farms and farmland, and ensure a local food supply in the western Nevada County area"
• Clean Power Co-op of Nevada County - finding cleaner energy solutions for residents of Nevada County - web page is being developed; contact through APPLE-NC at 530-470-8642
• Nevada City and Grass Valley Trade Market - taking steps toward a real usable local currency
• PowerUp NC - finding and focusing on energy saving incentives for Nevada City residents
• APPLE-NC - spreading awareness and taking actions to help Nevada County deal with effects from Peak Oil
• NEW on 7-29-07:Sierra Permaculture Guild - a new local outpost for the permaculture movement

National and International Peak Oil Citizen Groups

Oil companies, monetary agencies, trade organizations, governments and leaders all over the world are showing their concern over Peak Oil. This list is only a small sample of groups of concerned world citizens; follow their links or search the web for more.

• Post Carbon Institute - "Reduce Consumption: Produce Locally"
• The Relocalization Network - "Local Communities. Global Connections" A project of the Post Carbon Institue that links local groups together - APPLE is one of over 130 such local groups in 11 countries around the world!
• American Solar Energy Society - "Working toward a sustainable energy future. ASES is the United States section of the International Solar Energy Society. ASES is a nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization dedicated to the development and adoption of renewable energy in all its forms, including Solar, Wind, Geothermal, Hydrogen, Ocean, Biofuels, and Energy Efficiency."
• ASPO - Ireland - Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas (Ireland)
• ASPO - Australia -Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas (Australia)
• ASPO - USA - Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas (USA)
• Union of Concerned Scientists - "Citizens and Scientists for Environmental Solutions"
• NEW on 7-29-07:Oil Depletion Analysis Center (ODAC) - independent British charity; the name speaks for itself
• NEW on 7-29-07:American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy - national nonprofit that considers Energy Efficiency to be a National Resource; major conferences, a large Job Link, and more
• NEW on 7-29-07:Post Carbon Cities - a Post-Carbon Institute project (as impressive as their others) - 'Preparing local governments for energy and climate uncertainty'
• NEW on 7-29-07:Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative - the Northeastern states pact to reduce CO2 emissions - an example to follow; search the web for 'Western Regional Climate Change Initiative' to find news of our own version

Free Email Newsletters

No SPAM listed here! Read the reviews and follow these links to sign up for free email news about conservation, energy technology, and more:

• World Alliance for Decentralized Energy (WADE) - Monthly, 3-4 pages
  This group just recently launched their newsletter program, and the reviews are top notch. As with so many others, this group's name says it all - focusing on high efficiency cogeneration and decentralized renewable energy systems, for both energy AND economic benefits. Sign up by going to their 'Contact Us' tab or clicking the link for the newsletter from the front page.
• Grist - Daily or Weekly, 1-2 pages
  "Environmental news summaries from around the globe, served up with a touch of humor." Frequently peak-oil or climate-change related. Very easy to read, extremely well cited and documented blurb-and-link format; about 5 or 6 topics per day if you sign up for The Daily Grist.
• SolarBuzz - Weekly, 2-3 pages
  "NBuzz", the SolarBuzz newsletter, reports news in solar projects, manufacturing, companies, marketing, and people from around the world. Table of Contents, with blurb-and-link format for each headline.
• ASPO-Ireland - Monthly, 8+ pages
  This newsletter focuses specifically on peak oil news, analysis, and trends from around the world. All of the newsletters are archived and available online.
• DoE (US Department of Energy) Office of Fossil Energy - as news happens, usually weekly, 1 paragraph
  Sign up for coal and electric power updates, oil and natural gas updates, and/or carbon sequestration updates. The emails are short one-topic summaries of updates toe DoE's web page.
• DoE (US Department of Energy) EERE (Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy) - weekly, 3-4 pages
  "EERE Nework News" contains a Table of Contents with 5 or 6 longer blurbs with links to more detailed stories on their web site. Very well documented.