Peak Oil

It's pretty much a certainty at this point that the U. S. is careening headlong into another energy crisis. But don't worry, says celebrity economist Steven D. Levitt, simple economics will save the day.

My response? Does the media exaggerate things? Yes. Does the media employ rigorous and methodical analysis to every story? No. Should we have to wait until oil is $90 a barrel before we start to take other energy sources seriously? I guess we do. Sad.

If Levitt is right, the economy will correct itself this time pretty much just like it did back in the 1970s. I just think we shouldn't be waiting until we need incentives to start offering incentives. I want to see more public interest in nuclear power plants, wind farms, and solar collectors, and I want to see it now, not ten years from now when everybody's riding the bus around and kicking themselves for not building these things ten years earlier.