Peak oil issue is a very serious one

Reading the recent article that gave OPEC's explanation of why they aren't increasing their output (March 6), I was disappointed but not surprised that the concept of peak oil production was not even mentioned.

I have studied the energy field for some time, and it seems rather apparent that we are very near a global peak in oil production. OPEC gave various reasons for not raising their production, but the real answer is simple: because they can't.

Among others, Matthew Simmons, an oil investment executive, has studied this area carefully and has come to the conclusion that OPEC's production will start irreversibly declining sometime between a few months to at best a couple years from now.

Canadian tar sands and oil shale (unconventional oil production) won't be enough to make up the shortfall at the volume needed. Neither will ANWR in Alaska, or the recent deepwater finds near Brazil and Florida.

The world will soon be finding itself with production far below demand, and prices will easily double again in a few years time. This will make the oil crisis of 1979-1980 look like a training step.

The American economy is headed for more trouble unless we start working hard on steps like real conservation, biodiesel from algae, ethanol from switchgrass (not corn), improved public transportation and hybrids and electric vehicles available to all consumers.

Meanwhile, President Bush again reduced funding for many of these exact items in the latest budget proposal.

We need to ask our presidential candidates what they will do about peak oil, because that will be one of the most important issues they will face.

Unfortunately, most Americans aren't even aware of the situation, and the question hasn't been seriously asked.

Rob Neff

Lake Zurich