Councillors calls for rail, not roads - energy banker agrees

Matt Simmons gives the best advice
money can buy at the 2006 Energywise
forum held at Nelson.
He should not be ignored.















In December of last year Cr Helen Ritchie
and I called for fast trains as the answer to
the Capital's northern traffic problems, not
Transmission Gully or an upgraded coastal
highway to Wellington. Clearly Peak Oil was
very much in the minds of myself and
Councillor Ritchie and many of my friends at
Running On Empty.

As you know, last week (Thursday 9 March)
I attended an Energywise forum in Nelson
on behalf of Wellington City Council.
Energy investment banker Matt Simmons
was a key note speaker at that forum.
It was attended by a group of local government
official and elected representatives.

After telling us that Peak Oil is the most
serious issue we face in the 21st century,
Matt Simmons warned that denial of this
most pressing problem would lead
to the death of our culture and way of life.
Mr Simmons went on to tell us how we can
solve Peak Oil. Peak Oil, in case you hadn't
realised, is when supply peaks and then
cannot keep up with demand. That in
turn pushes up the price. Even worse the
supply of oil continues to fall, leading to an oil
crash.
Oil is expected reach $200 US a barrel,
and the rest I can leave to your imagination.

The solution argues Matt Simmons is to; -
-Reduce transportation intensity of oil
-Shipment of goods by truck becomes train to boat
-Liberation of employees to work close to home
-End nine to five check in
-Begin era of pay by productivity
-Grow food locally:end era of ornamental food.
-Reverse globalization: make things at home