The Oil Drum

David Roberts over at Gristmill questions whether the immediate reaction to increased awareness of the peak will be the development of renewable energy alternatives.

After receiving a letter to the editor explaining a more likely scenario (see post), Roberts sums it up for us:

Environmentalists seem to have a somewhat naive faith that once the concept of peak oil sinks in, people will move -- as though by the force of tides -- to support renewable, decentralized energy.

But why should that be true? A much more natural, predictable reaction would be to push like mad for more drilling and for more coal gasification. Both more drilling and more coal-to-liquid-fuel production would fit better with our existing infrastructure and practices, however environmentally malign they may be.