Impacts of Peak in World Oil Production Addressed by Worldwide Experts at Denver Conference

October 18, 2005 — By Association for the Study of Peak Oil (ASPO-USA)

DENVER — The Association for the Study of Peak Oil (ASPO-USA) has announced that the first conference of its kind is taking place in Denver addressing the impacts of an imminent peak in world oil production. The Denver World Oil Conference – Beyond Oil: Intelligent Response to Peak Oil Impacts, will feature worldwide oil and energy experts and political leaders who will convey important facts about the world’s past, current and future oil supply, the fundamentals driving peak oil, the status of alternative fuels, the economic risks of peak oil, demand reduction strategies, national security and foreign policy issues, and policy options at municipal levels.

This high-level conference is expected to draw an audience of more than 300 attendees from the public and private sector, including the media, businesses and the financial and investment community. Conference hosts include ASPO-USA, the City & County of Denver, the Community Office of Resource Efficiency (CORE) in Aspen, and the Wirth Chair in Environmental and Community Development Policy at the University of Colorado at Denver.

“We Americans consume our body weight in petroleum each week,” said Randy Udall, director of the Community Office for Energy Efficiency in Aspen. “With an imminent peak in world oil production expected to take place within the next several years, we need to take a realistic look at what this means for us, our families, businesses, communities, the state of Colorado and our nation as a whole.” He indicated that an impressive lineup of experts from around the nation will address these important concerns at the conference.

Prominent speakers include Matthew Simmons, Chairman of Simmons & Co. International and author of Twilight in the Desert: the Coming Saudi Oil Shock and the World Economy, who will deliver the keynote; The Honorable John Hickenlooper, Mayor of the City and County of Denver; The Honorable Timothy E. Wirth, President of the United Nations Foundation and former Colorado U.S. Representative and Senator; Jeremy Gilbert (Ireland), former Chief Petroleum Engineer for BP; Chris Skrebowski (UK), editor of Petroleum Review; Thomas A. Petrie, co-founder of Denver-based Petrie Parkman & Co. and acclaimed oil analyst; economist and author Dr. Roger H. Bezdek; and Congressman Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD), among others.

"Our hope is that this gathering will attract not only scientists interested in the world's oil reserves, but also local and national policy makers and business people who can help us be proactive in addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by potential shifts in our economy as it relates to energy," said Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, a former petroleum geologist.

According to top oil industry analyst Thomas A. Petrie, “It is likely that world oil production will peak by 2010; I would be very surprised if it doesn’t happen by 2015. Using better technology is a mitigator, not a solution, to eventual oil production declines.” Petrie believes the economic impacts of oil peaking could be far-reaching.

Financial sponsors of the conference include Marvin Gottlieb Associates; Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation; B&R Energy; CORE; Suncor; the Bighorn Center for Public Policy; Western Gas Resources; Delta Petroleum; Pitkin County; and ASPO-USA founding board members.

Visit www.aspo-usa.com for a full conference agenda and registration information.

Contacts
Susan Westfall
303-284-4087
conference media relations

Steve Andrews
303-759-1998
ASPO-USA

Randy Udall
970-963-0650
Community Office of Resource Efficiency

Beth Conover
720-865-5429
Office of the Mayor
City & County of Denver