ASPO-USA conference, November 2 – 5, Washington DC

Jim Baldauf, President and Co-Founder, ASPO-USA
Jan Mueller, Executive Director, ASPO-USA

Peak Oil Update: Timing, Trends, Consequences

An up-to-date analysis of the fundamental trends underlying the Peak Oil and resource depletion issue, and the implications for the economy, energy security, and global stability.

Chris Skrebowski, Founding Director, Peak Oil Consulting; Consulting Editor, Petroleum Review, Energy Institute (UK)
William Catton, Professor Emeritus, Dept. of Sociology, Washington State University; Author, Overshoot: The Ecological Basis for Revolutionary Change
Jeff Rubin, Former Chief Economist, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce; Author, Why Your World is About to Get a Whole Lot Smaller
Rear Admiral Lawrence Rice (invited)

Use less? Find Alternatives? Re-think Everything? A hard look at near-term and long-term options for adapting to an oil supply crisis, and choices facing businesses, government, communities, and citizens.

Richard Heinberg, Senior Fellow, Post Carbon Institute: Author, The End of Growth

Chris Martenson, Former Vice-President, Science Applications International Corporation; Creator “The Crash Course”
Roger Bezdek, President, Management Information Services Inc.
Angelina Galiteva, President, NEOptions; Member, California ISO Board of Governors; Former Chair, World Council for Renewable Energy
Mark DeLucchi. Research Scientist, Institute for Transportation Studies, University of California-Davis (invited)

Transportation accounts for 70% of U.S. oil use, and depends on oil for nearly all its energy needs. This session examines scenarios of how passenger and freight travel are likely to respond as Peak Oil unfolds.

Mark DeLucchi, Research Scientist, Institute for Transportation Studies, University of California-Davis (invited)
Charles Schlumberger, Lead Air Transport Specialist, The World Bank
Joshua Schank, President, Eno Transportation Foundation

Of Wells and Wall Street: Implications for Businesses and Investors

The current environment for businesses and investors is fraught with uncertainty. Learn how Peak Oil and other major shifts in energy market dynamics alters the calculus for business and investment strategies.

Jim Hansen, Ravenna Capital Management
Robert Rapier, Chief Technology Officer, Merica International
Chris Martenson, Creator, “The Crash Course”

Dynamic changes in China and the Middle East, including rapidly rising energy demand, has huge consequences for the United States and other industrial economies. This session examines major trends in global energy demand and supply, and ripple effects for the U.S. economy.

Jeffrey Brown, Independent Consulting Petroleum Geologist
Michael Klare, Five Colleges Professor of Peace and World Security Studies, Hampshire College
Minqi Li, Professor of Economics, University of Utah

The spectacular economic growth experienced by the United States and other industrial nations over the last 100 or more years was made possible in large part by access to abundant, affordable energy, principally from fossil fuels. Can growth as we have known it continue in the face of accelerating depletion of global energy resources?

Jean Laherrere, Consultant, former Petroleum Engineer, Total S.A. (France)
William Catton, Professor Emeritus, Dept. of Sociology, Washington State University; Author, Overshoot: The Ecological Basis for Revolutionary Change
Richard Heinberg, Senior Fellow, Post Carbon Institute: Author, The End of Growth
Jim Baldauf, President, ASPO-USA Board of Directors

Dinner on your own

Massive expansion of shale gas development has been touted as a cure-all for America’s energy challenges. This special feature session takes a hard look at the prospects and pitfalls for shale gas.

Anthony Ingraffea, Professor of Engineering, Cornell University
Rob Jackson, Professor, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University
Robert Howarth, Professor of Ecology and Environmental Biology, Cornell University
Amy Mall, Senior Policy Analyst, NRDC

Moderator: Art Berman, Labyrinth Consulting Services, Inc.; ASPO-USA Board Member

Registration

Kjell Aleklett, Professor of Physics, Uppsala University (Sweden); President, ASPO International

Navigating a New Energy Reality – Concepts and Principles

A review of key considerations for adapting to the impacts of Peak Oil and resource depletion, and differentiating between meaningful and misguided responses.

Robert Rapier, Chief Technology Officer, Merica International

An examination of how rapid changes in the energy world will shape fundamental economic and financial conditions.

Charley Maxwell, Senior Energy Analyst, Weeden and Co.
Jeff Rubin, Author, former CIBC Chief Economist

Moderator: Jan Mueller, Executive Director, ASPO-USA

Living on a Renewable Energy Budget

Is it possible to run the global economy entirely on renewable energy? Do we have a choice? What are the opportunities and constraints for scaling up renewable energy development? What would the transition path look like? This session will drill down into the most authoritative and up-to-date data to address these critical questions.

Dave Murphy, Energy Consultant, EROI Institute, SUNY-ESF; Contributor, The Oil Drum
Angelina Galiteva, President, NEOptions; Member, California ISO Board of Governors; Former Chair, World Council for Renewable Energy

Moderator: Ken Zweibel, Director, George Washington University Solar Institute

Impacts on production and distribution of food is among the most serious concerns surrounding Peak Oil. Notable agriculture researcher and innovator Wes Jackson looks at the issue from an overall food system perspective and explores the key factors shaping the future of food.

Wes Jackson, President, The Land Institute

What does a contracting economy look like? How would a nation built on the idea of endless growth respond to a different reality? This session will discuss scenarios for the U.S. and other industrial economies and examine the historical example of Russia following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Dmitri Orlov, Engineer; Author, Reinventing Collapse: The Soviet Example and American Prospects
Gail Tverberg, President, Tverberg Actuarial Services; Contributing Editor, The Oil Drum

Strategies to adapt to Peak Oil may vary according to differences in regional economies and local resources. This session discusses how to assess different opportunities and constraints at the regional and local level in forming adaptation strategies for your business, your community, and your family.

Naomi Davis, Founder and President, Blacks in Green
John Michael Greer, Author, The Long Descent: A User’s Guide to the End of the Industrial Age
Aaron Newton, Land Planner and Director of Environmental Services, Outdoor Living Inc.; Co-Author, A Nation of Farmers: Defeating the Food Crisis on American Soil
Peter Kilde, Executive Director, West Central Wisconsin Community Action Agency

Moderator: Megan Quinn-Bachman, Reporter, Yellow Springs News; ASPO-USA Board Member

There are no silver bullet or one-size-fits-all responses for Peak Oil, resource depletion, and the economic, social, and political challenges they present. Individual businesses, organizations, public institutions, communities, and households need to decide for themselves what specific adaptive strategies are most appropriate. But what general principles and elements can be distilled from the conference sessions and discussion thus far? A diverse panel of conference speakers and special guests will explore that question.

Annual fundraising dinner with conference speakers. Program and discussion topics to be announced.
Cost $200 (included with Peak Aware conference registration package)
*Pre-registration required*

Investors Roundtable
An exchange of key information to guide financial decisions in a world of Peak Oil and energy uncertainty
Featuring: Charley Maxwell, Robert Rapier, Jim Hansen, Charles Schlumberger, and other experts

Community Adaptation and the Post-Peak Economy
Individuals have already begun reducing their dependence upon the energy-intensive global economic system by working cooperatively in communities to provide for their essential needs — food, shelter, healthcare, security and credit — closer to home. Discuss relocalization and monetary reform strategies with on-the-ground activists and create a plan for a post-peak economy.
Featuring: Megan Bachman, Dmitry Orlov, John Michael Greer, and other experts

Bringing Peak Oil into the National Policy Debate
Federal policies affecting energy, the economy, transportation, infrastructure and other critical areas already faces huge policy and funding challenges. How does the prospect of rising fuel prices and potential fuel shortages change the debate for these interconnected issues? Does our vision for the future fit economic and energy reality?
Featuring: Joshua Schank, President, Eno Transportation Foundation and other experts

Investors Roundtable (continued)

Community Adaptation and the Post-Peak Economy (continued)

Bringing Peak Oil into the National Transportation Policy Debate (continued)

Innovative Communications, Writing a New American Story (continued)

Saturday afternoon is dedicated to students and educators. Some conference speakers and ASPO-USA members will be in attendance and part of the program