Peak Oil- Should you be considering ‘Transition’?

A group of concerned individuals, and established ‘environmental’ groups, have got together, in the last year or so, for the sole purpose of trying to help raise awareness, among Island residents and businesses, of the issue of ‘Peak Oil’; and the likely consequences for everybody.

Peak Oil is the term often used to describe the moment when new discoveries of oil no longer keep pace with consumption; or when maximum production is reached. Many of the leading oil companies are now openly admitting that we have either reached, or nearly reached, that point.

Phil Gawne, who just happens to be a Minister, which helps to get the message heard at the highest levels, says the group is not about delivering a scaremongering message; but wants people to start thinking now about how dependent the Isle of Man is, currently, on fossil fuels. It is then only a short step to thinking about how life, and business, as we know it, can be sustained in the future as the oil runs out, or becomes too expensive.

Former Local Government and the Environment Minister, John Rimington, another member of the ‘steering group’, says the rising cost of oil etc will create major social issues, with inflationary pressure, and increased wage demands from lower income groups who will struggle most to meet the rising costs of ‘energy’ etc.

He says it is important to spread the ‘transition’, or ‘power down’, message to as wide an audience as possible; so people are able to prepare for change well in advance of any noticeable changes. Get it wrong, he warns, and people tend to panic; which is why the group is so keen the Isle of Man is properly prepared.

Mr Gawne says that it is not all ‘doom and gloom’ though as the Island is more than capable of being self-sufficient in food and energy production.

He pointed to the recent unanimous vote in Tynwald to his Department’s new agricultural policy; and he believes that a wind farm, similar in size to the one being commissioned off the northwest coast of England, would provide sufficient power to meet the Island’s base load. If the community worked together on reducing energy consumption, and also called on the government to act, he is sure there would be the necessary reaction from government.

He reminds people that the Island had an industrial revolution powered by water; so it is not impossible to thrive without fossil fuels.

Cheryl Cousins, another group member, says that they have been spreading the message to the business community, the WI and farmers and they have received a good response. Now they want to disseminate the message much wider, including to individual households, as this is so much a community issue.

At the same time as ‘Transition IOM’ was delivering its message the Positive Action Group was also issuing its own warning about the Island’s dependence on imported energy.

They issued a press release highlighting how a short ‘closure’ of the Grangemouth refinery, in the UK caused considerable disruption to business and people’s lives.