Tom Whipple points out in this article that very little has been talked about electricity, and how our supplies rely on oil.
Although it has received scant coverage in the U.S. media, in many parts of the world, the electric grids are shutting down for long periods each day. In a few places the electricity is now off most of the time. Some of this is due to droughts which have reduced the hydroelectric generating capacity in many parts of the world. Some is due to the price of oil which has simply become too expensive to use in thermoelectric generating stations and in a few places the electricity is out or has been greatly reduced because of civil strife. Iraq, Nigeria, Gaza and Pakistan are the most prominent instances of the latter. Even the climate has contributed to the problem as a wave of unusually cold weather has enveloped the Middle East, Central Asia and Siberia, forcing many to use electric heat as their only means of survival.
Currently, there is some form of power shortage starting in southern China and ranging south to Vietnam and then westward across the subcontinent to Africa. Parts of Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, and many places in central and southern Africa have reported shortages. These range from minor inconveniences to cities where the economy is close to shutting down. Problems have been reported in Central and South America and nearly everywhere where oil-fired power plants are used to generate electricity.
Thus far the developed countries have largely avoided problems due to better electrical infrastructures, domestic fuel supplies, or the ability to pay whatever it costs to obtain the necessary fuel. In effect, the rich have outbid the poor who are now suffering the consequences.
The mainstream media seems to be ignoring the blackouts around the world, or warning people that it could soon be happening in the richer countries.
Sad as it may seem, we may have a situation shaping up where the world will shortly be divided into countries that have general access to electricity and those who don’t. If you have a good source of domestic fuel for generation, then you are probably in good shape. If you don’t, you probably won’t be able to afford to import it for the competition will be fierce.
What this means for the billions around the world that will be without it is difficult to contemplate. They can certainly forget electric cars for awhile and it is a good bet their governments will restrict or maybe even eliminate household use. Whatever electricity is still available will be used to pump water, maintain communications, public services, and some amount of industry.
For most of human history people went to sleep when it got dark. Full moon was a time of outside activities, gatherings, parties. Electricity has only been around since oil, and much of what we take for granted has only been here for a tiny blip of our history. Eventually most of the world will undoubtedly be without electricity, at least most of the time, and for those of us in the West (and elsewhere) the oil culture has seen traditional alternatives and skills disappear. Alternatives such as solar panels may help make the transition easier for some, but with a guaranteed working life of 15 years, there wont be the oil or energy to repair or replace them after that time. In the longterm it looks like we will have to learn to live without electricity.
So much to think about, so much to learn, and so much to do.
