The Party's Over

They therefore define energy not in terms of what it is, but by what it does: as “the ability to do work

assess oil resources and review estimates of current reserves and extraction rates. Many readers may find the information in this chapter unfamiliar and disturbing since it conflicts with what we frequently hear from economists and politicians

The only truly isolated system that we know of is the universe.

A third and even more sobering collective voice belongs to an informal group of retired and independent petroleum geologists.

Conserve and switch to renewables for the sake of the environment and our children’s and grandchildren’s welfare.

A more strident voice issues from environmental activists

The loudest and most confident voice belongs to conventional free-market economists, who view energy as merely one priced commodity among many

How much petroleum is left? How much coal, natural gas, and uranium? Will we ever run out? When? What will happen when we do? How can we best prepare? Will renewable substitutes — such as wind and solar power — enable industrialism to continue in a recognizable form indefinitely?

over the past century or so we have created a way of life based on mining and consuming fossil energy resources in vast and increasing quantities. Our food and transportation systems have become utterly dependent on growing supplies of oil, natural gas, and coal.

When they do, competition for what remains will trigger dramatic economic and geopolitical events; in the end, it may be impossible for even a single nation to sustain industrialism as we have known it during the twentieth