Peak Moment 129: Meeting the Energy Challenge

Richard Heinberg, author of Powerdown, makes plain the dire situation we're in as declining oil supplies fail to meet demand. He notes there are no easy "supply side" solutions (like substitute fuels): we must reduce demand, initially through conservation and efficiency. Julian Darley, president of Post Carbon Institute observes that while personal action is very important, individuals can only do so much. A deeper response must come at the municipal level -- to change infrastructures on how we heat, transport, and power our society. Sharing, he notes, can bring enormous energy reductions almost immediately: after all, two people rather than one in a car cuts energy use per person in half. Bottom line: Americans love rising to a challenge. And this IS a challenge! (www.postcarbon.org, www.richardheinberg.com) Produced September 27, 2008. Episode 129.