"... the lack of economically available coal could seriously effect the counties in the next 20-50 years" (result of study from two Appalachian coal dependent counties)


We use different sources of energy to light our homes, watch television or cook our favorite dishes. Energy sources are classified into two categories : 1. Renewable 2. Nonrenewable energy. Most of the energy we use are from non-renewable sources. Nonrenewable energy such as natural gas, coal, petroleum and uranium takes millions of years to form. The result will be one day these sources will become too expensive to harvest. With an increase of population world wide our needs for more energy is increasing.


picture taken from http://www.eia.doe.gov

The truth is, we may not have to wait for too long before we find ourselves in trouble.

According to http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=1034

Studies on sociological and economic effects of coal development, depletion, and dependency have been completed in two Appalachian coal dependent counties: Pike County, KY; and Boone County, WV. These studies suggest that the lack of economically available coal could seriously effect the counties in the next 20-50 years.

(Article released on 10/24/1998) - U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey

Now we have nothing worry about right ? Because the U.S has the "largest resource for coal" -_-;

Now here is another story, let's talk about oil. There is a big case study done in http://peakopps.blogspot.com/2008_10_01_archive.html if you are interested to do more research. Here are a few graphs that may interest you.



For now the price of oil has gone down. Some say that people are trying to save money and driving less, so the demand for oil has gone down and so has its prices. So we can all relax right ? And the next time ... we can start talking about drilling holes in Alaska again. The global warming might help melt some of inches of ice from there too !

One of my senior colleagues Peter in New Jersey jokingly said, where's Al-Gore's promise of global warming ! I thought by now I could grow banana plants in my back yard in winter. Well, one day when the money keeps running from our pocket, and we can spend even less than we are today perhaps we really need to find ways to grow banana plants in our back yard.