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Jan Lundberg, independent oil industry analyst and eco-activist, spoke at University of Oklahoma’s Devon Energy Hall on Aug. 30, 2011. From the Summary publicized earlier (see poster at bottom):

 Many in industry and government are counting on natural gas — especially through its less natural fracked derivation — to propel the present industrial economy for endless growth. Besides the environmental hazards and climate-changing consequences of such a course, as if natural gas’ greenhouse-emission relative advantage is sufficient for climate protection, pursuing natural gas to its maximum is a tragic mistake that will not succeed. It is just as tragic and foolish to put massive investment into a national grid for renewable energy. This is because the nation’s infrastructure is oil-dependent, and cheap oil is geologically almost gone. Petrocollapse will be triggered by the next major world oil supply crisis. So we need a local-economy emphasis in changing our way of life — now.

Note: Jan delivers his talks ad lib, so the following synopsis is reconstructed from his outline and notes except for two identified passages he read to the audience. A video of his presentation is being processed as of Sept. 13, 2011. Check back with CultureChange.org to catch the video.

[Jan is introduced by Prof. John Banas of the University of Oklahoma’s Communications Department, liaison with the Mewbourne School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering:]

“Jan Lundberg is an international speaker, writer and publisher, and is best known for running what was widely considered ‘the bible of the oil industry,’ Lundberg Survey Inc. In 1979 the firm predicted the Second Oil Shock. After 14 years there, he left for-profit work to found the nonprofit Sustainable Energy Institute, now Culture Change. For over twenty years he has studied peak oil, energy alternatives, and conservation based primarily on grassroots activism for lifestyle change.”

Thank you John for the introduction. I’m grateful for the University’s departments and sponsors for having me. I am glad to be here with you all today, so that we can talk. For we are intersecting in our mutual education.

So you know where my ideas come from, my background is that of an oil market analyst who became, thanks to Southern California Gas Company’s regulation by the state, an energy analyst, and, finally an “Earth analyst.” I learned how the world’s systems and the threat to our life support involve everything, not just energy. Some believe energy is where it’s at, but if diminishing purchasing power coupled with reaching resource limits accelerate, there will be no more talk of “the energy economy.”