Today, I attended a free Energy 101 Workshop seminar targeted at local governments, schools, and hospitals. The first 10 or so slides presented were essentially an introduction to Peak Oil. Of about thirty people in the room, I have no idea how many people actually understood it. However, everyone grasps the concept that energy prices are rising and that we need to do something about it.
In short, the 'solution' being sold was to conserve. Analyze current energy use and trends, analyze utility bills and understand how they are structured, come up with a strategic plan to address it, and take action.
Overall, I found the presentation a bit pedestrian and it digressed on occasion, but I thought it was mostly perfect for the target audience.
I have a meeting tonight where I will try to take the right steps for my organization to begin this process. I hope others do the same.
Does it alarm anyone that the state is now subsidizing what amounts to a 'peak oil in a nutshell' seminar aimed primarily at local governments? Furthermore, free services and funds may be available to assist in energy conservation efforst. I went to this thing expecting to be the individual to bring up fossil fuel depletion ... How naive of me!
I know that we have now identified about ten thousand canaries in the mineshaft, but I think we would have to count this among them ...
Your government is completely aware of the situation. No one wants to panic the people, which is why you don't hear more about the subject.