Apr. 3--There's only so much oil on our planet, and it is not a renewable resource. The easy-to-reach deposits will be used up first, then it will become more expensive to reach or pump or transport. Production has been increasing on an upward curve since oil's discovery. But that can't continue forever, since supplies are finite.

Meanwhile, the Earth's population is growing, as is the demand for creature comforts and development -- all of which depend on oil.

Some fear that the end of cheap oil will bring harsh consequences. That's why the city of Bloomington has established a Peak Oil Task Force, chaired by City Councilman David Rollo.

The task force is preparing a report on its findings and will present it to the Bloomington City Council sometime this summer.

Down to Earth asked Rollo to explain.

QUESTION: What does "peak oil" mean?

ANSWER: The term "peak oil" is shorthand for the impending global peak in petroleum production. The phenomenon has already been observed on a smaller scale in many of the major fields, and in many countries (famously, the United States, which peaked in 1971). There are many indications that we are near or have already peaked in global production: 1. Most large fields are in decline, 2. For every four barrels used currently only one is discovered, and 3. We now know that the observed rate of decline of the largest fields in the world is about 9 percent, meaning that a new Saudi Arabia's production must come online every 18 months to offset this decline just to stay even.

Q: Why does the city of Bloomington need a task force to prepare for the occurrence of peak oil?

A: We are living in a century of global resource limits, and it appears that one of the first to be met will be oil. Without substitutes, our society will experience a severe decline in energy availability. Bloomington will experience this energy scarcity, as will the world at large. The purpose of the task force is to explore our vulnerability to cheap energy, and advise policy makers and the public on courses of action to adapt.

Q: It's pretty obvious that peak oil will affect transportation, but what else?

A: Food is affected because the current industrial production model is so reliant on energy inputs in the form of fuel, chemicals, fertilizers and so forth. It is not difficult to imagine that high fuel costs and/or volatility will affect food prices and availability. To guard against this, we should prepare by examining our "foodshed" and attempt to minimize distances from producers and consumers. Growing food organically and biointensively is a direction that communities can take to insure food security.