Truth in Energy
Washington DC, November 3-5
Welcome, Opening Remarks
Jan Lars Mueller – Executive Director, ASPO-USA
2011 Peak Oil Update: Timing, Implications, Responses
An up-to-date synopsis of the fundamental economic, energy, and geologic issues that underlie the Peak Oil problem and our overall energy challenges.
Chris Skrebowski – Founding Director, Peak Oil Consulting; Consulting Editor, “Petroleum Review”, Energy Institute (UK)
William R. Catton Jr. – Professor Emeritus, Department of Sociology, Washington State University; Author, Bottleneck: Humanity’s Impending Impasse
Jeff Rubin – Former Chief Economist, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce; Author, “Why Your World is About to Get a Whole Lot Smaller”
Adapting to the End of Cheap Energy: Critical Factors
An in-depth look at the relationship between energy and the economy, and how changes in energy supply, demand, and sources can affect fundamental economic parameters.
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; Co-Chair, World Council for Renewable Energy
Out of Gas: Implications for Transportation
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.
Charles Schlumberger – Lead Air Transport Specialist, The World Bank
Joshua Schank – President, Eno Transportation Foundation
Arlee Reno – Senior Economist, Cambridge Systematics
Beth Osborne – Deputy Undersecretary for Policy, U.S. Department of Transportation
Q&A with Charles Schlumberger, Joshua Schank, Arlee Reno, Beth Osborne
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 – Principal, Ravenna Capital Management
Robert Rapier – Chief Technology Officer, Merica International
Jason Stevens – Director of Energy Research, Morningstar
Chris Martenson – Former Vice-President, Science Applications International Corporation; Creator, “The Crash Course”
Q&A with Jim Hansen, Robert Rapier, Jason Stevens, and Chris Martenson
China and the Middle East: Implications for U.S. Energy Security
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.
Minqi Li – Professor of Economics, University of Utah
Jeffrey J. Brown – Independent Consulting Petroleum Geologist
Kjell Aleklett – President ASPO International; Uppsala University
Q&A with Minqi Li, Kjell Aleklett, and Jeffrey Brown
The End of Growth?
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 R. Catton Jr. – Professor Emeritus, Dept. of Sociology, Washington State University; Author,
Bottleneck : Humanity’s Impending Impasse
Richard Heinberg – Senior Fellow, Post Carbon Institute; Author, The End of Growth
Moderator: Jim Baldauf – President, ASPO-USA
The Shale Gas Rush: Boom or Bust?
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.
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, Natural Resources Defense Council
Moderator: Art Berman – Principal, Labyrinth Consulting Services, Inc.; Board Member, ASPO-USA
Q&A with Art Berman, Rob Jackson, Robert Howarth, & Amy Mall
Interim Observations
Robert Hirsch – Senior Energy Advisor, Management Information Services Inc.; Lead Author, the “Hirsch Report”
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
The Post-Peak Economy
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 – Former CIBC Chief Economist; Author, Why Your World Is About to Get a Whole Lot Smaller
Q&A with Charley Maxwell & Jeff Rubin
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?
Dave Murphy – Energy Consultant, EROI Institute SUNY-ESF; Contributor, The Oil Drum
Angelina Galiteva – President, NEOptions; Member, California ISO Board of Governors; Co-Chair, World Council for Renewable Energy
Guy Dauncey – Founder and President, BC Sustainable Energy Association
Ken Zweibel – Director, George Washington University Solar Institute
Moderator: Ron Swenson – President, Swenson Solar; Board Member, ASPO-USA
Keynote Presentation: The Future of Food
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
Finance in a Rapidly Changing World
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.
Dmitry Orlov – Engineer; Author, Reinventing Collapse: The Soviet Example and American Prospects
Gail Tverberg – President, Tverberg Actuarial Services; Contributing Editor, “The Oil Drum”
Nicole Foss – Co-editor of The Automatic Earth
Moderator: Richard Vodra – President, Spire Financial Services
At Ground Level: Adaptation for Local and Regional Economies
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.
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
Naomi Davis – Founder, Blacks In Green
John Michael Greer – Author, The Long Descent: A User’s Guide to the End of the Industrial Age
Peter Kilde – Executive Director, West Central Wisconsin Community Action Agency
Moderator: Megan Quinn Bachman – Reporter, Yellow Spring News; Board Member, ASPO-USA
Q&A with Aaron Newton, John Michael Greer, & Peter Kilde
What Next? – Strategies and Synthesis Discussion
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.