than once...is from our Energy Information Administration (EIA) which gets all its data from O&G industry outputs...and the industry does not refute that data...I'm not making anything up or fantasizing the situation...just so everyone is clear on the foundation of this debate.
Given that we are in a very 'Precarious' situation, it is imperative that we shift away from the burning of Fossil Fuels ASAP here in the U.S....note also that British Petroleum regularly puts out its own estimate for years remaining of Worldwide Oil Reserves under current consumption rates and that is approximately 47 years...not at all "Infinite", is it? Once again...I don't make up BP's projections, so don't blame the 'Messenger'.
Some people...e.g. Curly, just yesterday...believe that there is no cause to worry about "Proven" reserves being so small because there is so much "Probable" and "Yet to be Discovered" reserves out there (e.g. from Fracking)...yet he and they close their eyes to the unprofitability of, and waning of, the Fracking Industry...and more importantly, the urgency for the U.S. to come up with PROOF of the availability of those "Probable" and "Yet Undiscovered" reserves within a very short time span...In essence we here in the U.S. are 'Dependent on the "Kindness of Others" who do have much greater resources...very bad situation to be in as a political power.
Aside from my resonance with Obama's policies, when I watched him debate McCain in 2008...because of my own experience in the energy field...I was highly impressed when he responded to the debate moderator's question to each of them..."What would be your #1 Priority as President"...McCain essentially said "Everything"...but Obama said "ENERGY"...it is THE critical item that enables EVERYTHING else that we do and hope to do...he also went on to explain that ENERGY deeply impacts us in the global arena...poorly, if we have to rely on others (e.g. for FFs)...and given that the amount we have is very limited...note: ANWR could provide maybe one extra year of oil reserves...we absolutely need to convert our HEAT and POWER generation to Nuclear and Renewables...now that is what I call real LEADERSHIP...not like those who close their eyes and ears to documented reality, such as that from the EIA and BP.
Until folks like you, Nigel, wake up to this reality you're just making the transition...which is underway...that much harder and painful...