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  • From: Tompkins County Relocalization Project <tcrp-news AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • To: sustainabletompkins AT lists.mutualaid.org
  • Cc: tcrp-news AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [tcrp-news] Candidates for the 24th Congressional District on Peak Oil
  • Date: Sat, 4 Nov 2006 08:58:00 -0500 (EST)

>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).]





  • [tcrp-news] Candidates for the 24th Congressional District on Peak Oil, Tompkins County Relocalization Project, 11/04/2006

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