Gail Tverberg wrote this article for Oil and Gas magazine:

It seems to me that the current recession is very much energy-related, and is likely to continue. The recession is occurring because the current US “system” (individual homes, private cars, many imports) was built for cheap ($20 barrel) oil and gas, and cannot function well using expensive oil and gas.

She notes that people’s income are relatively fixed and any increase in energy costs is not good for the economy. This means that expensive energy will hurt us, while cheaper energy will help us. If people no more money, they cannot go to the stores.

Geothermal gives us a way out.

When energy matters came to my attention several years ago, Gail’s writings stood out. They are clear, simple and easy to understand. Gail has a mathematical background. She worked as an actuary, advising the insurance industry on risk and reward matters.

Later, I found out that most Peak Oil staffers are international and nationally recognized experts in the oil and gas industry, or experts in other relevant fields. They know what they are talking about. I respect simple competency.

When I went to the first Association for the Study of Peak Oil conference in October 2007, in Houston, I made sure to go up and introduce myself to Gail.

As soon as I came back, I suggested to Betsy Cole of the Kohala Center that they do an energy conference. It took place in June 2007 at the Hilo Hawaiian, and Gail was the featured speaker.

After the conference I spent three days taking Gail and her family sightseeing. Peak Oil was on both of our minds and we spent quite a bit of the time talking about the ramifications.

Although masked by the present recession, the same forces of declining oil supplies are still at work two and a half years later. Many folks from Hawai‘i responded to her post on the Big Island. It is true that we are very much aware of what is going on.

Back then I called Kale Gumapac, alaka‘i of the Kanaka Council, and told him that I could arrange for the Kanaka Council to hear Gail’s talk free of charge. He told me that his people would feel awkward among the “shiny shoe” crowd*.

So instead I made arrangements for Gail to see them at the Lili‘uokalani Children’s Center. Though the Kanaka Council members were at an important County Council hearing, they all went over to hear Gail speak.

It was remarkable how Gail’s message resonated. For them, it was not a matter of “if the boat not going come.” It was a matter of when.

During the talk and after, they  treated Gail as a kupuna. It was remarkable to see.

* This is where the phrase “rubbah slippah crowd” came from.