Mitigation Strategies

We list below certain policies and actions which can, and should, be implemented simultaneously to address the Peak Oil challenge.   We’ve put a blueprint on the drawing board that ranks current options from top to bottom according to effectiveness, urgency, and practicality.

Educate the Public - From Main Street to Wall Street to K Street: we need plain talk that tells the whole energy story and connects the dots.

Mandate Conservation and Efficiency - Modest additional gains in vehicle mpg will save millions of barrels of oil per day. Doubling fleet efficiency in a decade is achievable and critical.

Instill Net Energy as a Guiding Principle - All options should be judged on the basis of net energy EROEI (Energy Return On Energy Invested) they deliver to society.  BTUs count. Turning food into gasoline is bad policy. Fuels from unconventional hydrocarbons are high-carbon emitters, lower on EROEI.

Promote Plug-in Hybrids - Hybrid vehicles work, electric power plants work, wall sockets work.

Develop Renewables - Power the plug-ins with more electricity generated by renewable energy systems: solar, wind, waves, geothermal.  Develop programs to recycle the batteries.

Face Population Growth Issues - The U.S. is adding 30 million people each decade. Exponential population growth worldwide, with more countries seeking a higher standard of living, will greatly increase demand for petroleum products.

Implement Carbon Regulation - Could be the most effective signal to moderate consumption and address climate change.

Incorporate Future Energy Costs into Infrastructure Planning- Low density sprawl and massive highway building must be examined.

Institute Fee-Bates on New Car Purchases - Buyers of new efficient cars earn a rebate; buyers of gas guzzlers pay a fee, sending a price signal to the showroom floor.

Incentivize Enhanced Oil Recovery - Injecting CO2 in old oil reservoirs can yield more oil, sequestering the greenhouse gas.

Obtain Depletion Data from Oil & Gas Producers - Better data on current oil depletion rates exists, and public access is essential. Middle East countries do not release their information; the world needs more statistics to effectively plan for the future.

Revitalize Rail Transportation - Especially in densely populated parts of the country. Better land-use planning for essential density elsewhere.

Review Off-Limit Areas for Drilling - There may be room for some increased access; seismic and 3-D tests should be performed to evaluate those potential offshore resources.

Research Cellulosic Ethanol in Depth - We need to determine its true potential as soon as possible; effective substitutes for liquid fuels is an urgent priority.