[SustainableTompkins] Candidates for the 24th Congressional District on Peak Oil

[bosak at ibiblio.org]

>From our friends in Peak Oil Awareness / Central New York.

Jon

==================================================================

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press contacts: Jason Brenno 607.693.2013
                Eugene Marner 607.829.8451

CITIZENS' GROUP URGES CANDIDATES IN 24TH CD TO ACKNOWLEDGE PEAK OIL

PRESENTATIONS ON THE GROWING CRISIS MADE TO ALL THREE CAMPAIGNS

With the support of the Peak Oil Awareness / Central New York
(POA_CNY) discussion group, member Jason Brenno of Harpursville
contacted the campaigns of each of the three candidates for
Congress in the 24th Congressional District.  Mr. Brenno was able
to make presentations to the key staff of both Mike Arcuri, the
Democrat, and Ray Meier, the Republican, explaining the importance
of beginning now to take steps to deal with the imminent peaking
of global production of oil and natural gas and the permanent
decline of supplies that will follow the peak.  Jon Bosak of
TCLocal (formerly the Tompkins County Relocalization Project) made
a similar presentation to Mike Sylvia, the Libertarian candidate.

Each candidate was sent several statements from U.S. Government
and oil industry sources, including the following from the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and from a study made for the
Department of Energy:

   The doubling of oil prices from 2003-2005 is not an anomaly,
   but a picture of the future. Oil production is approaching its
   peak; low growth in availability can be expected for the next 5
   to 10 years. As worldwide petroleum production peaks,
   geopolitics and market economics will cause even more
   significant price increases and security risks.  One can only
   speculate at the outcome from this scenario as world petroleum
   production declines. The disruption of world oil markets may
   also affect world natural gas markets since most of the natural
   gas reserves are collocated with the oil reserves.... The days
   of inexpensive, convenient, abundant energy sources are quickly
   drawing to a close.... World oil production is at or near its
   peak and current world demand exceeds the supply.

      Energy Trends and Their Implications for U.S. Army
      Installations.  U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, September 2005

   The peaking of world oil production presents the U.S. and the
   world with an unprecedented risk management problem. As peaking
   is approached, liquid fuel prices and price volatility will
   increase dramatically, and, without timely mitigation, the
   economic, social, and political costs will be
   unprecedented. Viable mitigation options exist on both the
   supply and demand sides, but to have substantial impact, they
   must be initiated more than a decade in advance of peaking.

      Peaking of World Oil Production: Impacts, Mitigation, and
      Risk Management.  SAIC report to the U.S. Department of
      Energy, February 2005

Mr. Brenno asked the candidates to provide to the group a written
statement that acknowledges the urgency of the Peak Oil question
and commits to do the following:

   1. Publicly recognize the seriousness of the problem and work
      to begin preparations.

   2. Seek membership on one of the House energy committees and
      join the House Peak Oil Caucus.

   3. Dedicate competent staff resources to studying mitigation
      options.

   4. Work with a non-partisan peak oil group comprised of
      concerned citizens in the 24th District that is open to any
      US citizen residing in the 24th District, to assist
      congressional staff in educating themselves and constituents
      on energy resource issues.

The campaign of Mike Arcuri, the Democratic candidate, sent the
following response:

   As a member of Congress, Mike Arcuri will seek bipartisan
   solutions to America's energy problems. He will study the
   issues, and will dedicate staff resources to this end. He
   believes that America needs an energy plan that helps protect
   our environment, and takes into account that oil and gas are
   finite resources.

State Senator Ray Meier, the Republican candidate, replied:

   Studies have shown that we have reached and probably have
   passed the peak of world oil production.  Assuming that this is
   true, this means less than half of the world's oil reserve is
   left in the Earth.  The United States consumes 25% of all oil
   used in the world, while we only have about 2% of the world's
   remaining oil supply.  Therefore, we import much more than we
   produce for ourselves.  We must immediately use conservation
   and energy efficiency to reduce our demand for oil.
   Alternative and renewable energy sources must begin to replace
   oil -- oil that we are not going to have as we move further
   away from 50% of remaining oil in the Earth toward zero
   percent.  The high cost of oil and gas is particularly
   burdensome for Upstate New Yorkers, farmers, and businesses.
   Therefore, to keep jobs in Upstate and wean ourselves off of
   oil and gas dependency, we should work together to develop
   low-cost, alternative sources of energy.  As Congressman, I
   would like to serve on the House Energy and Commerce Committee,
   which will result in my staff for this committee dedicating a
   substantial amount of time to addressing energy issues.  In
   addition, I will look to join fellow House members, either via
   a Caucus or other means, to promote energy research and
   development and to encourage the increased production and
   consumption of alternative sources of energy.  Lastly, I would
   like to form an Upstate New York energy focus group that
   consists of a range of interested persons, including Upstate
   New York elected officials, conservationists, scientists,
   inventors, agricultural interests, and members of the local
   business community, and others to work toward helping Upstate
   New York to be the frontrunner in alternative energy
   production.

Mike Sylvia, the candidate of the Libertarian Party for the 24th
CD seat, responded as follows:

   I understand that preparing for problems relating to Peak Oil
   will take decades. In order to avoid a worst case outcome, we
   need to focus on starting work very soon.  I am very interested
   in studying mitigation options and will seek membership on
   House energy committees.  I will also join the House Peak Oil
   Caucus. I will commit staff to research this issue in alliance
   with a non-partisan group which includes citizens of the 24th
   District.

For more information on Peak Oil and the relocalization of
economies, please visit POA_CNY at yahoogroups.com and join the
discussion group.  Or contact Jason Brenno at sjbrenno at yahoo.com
or 607.693.2013.

[People in Tompkins County are invited to visit the TCLocal site
at http://www.tclocal.org or to contact the TCLocal editor, Jon
Bosak (bosak at ibiblio dot org).]