Enter global warming. This allows people to demand energy efficiency and non-fossil fuel polluting energy sources without causing undue panic. What's more it lets the world put pressure on the U.S to consume less energy so that the oil will last longer, or at least they'll benefit from the remaining stocks.
Since I am in the oil business, I say your "peak Oil" is a joke.
Known reserves in the USA alone can provide fuel for over 100 years without going to any extensive lifting approaches.
I read a study once that noted 52% of people had no idea where their gas comes from and 92% have no idea where the plastic that wraps their loaf of bread comes from. The source is the same oil well.
Oil is used in everything we make from paint to computers not just gasoline. People really need to get a like. Peak Oil BTW noted in 1970 that all the oil would be gone by now as well.
Na, I don't buy into that peak oil scare either. Russia and Canada alone are sitting on top of huge reserves that have yet to be tapped. Plus there are many other lush reserves yet to be explored.
plus, as the world turns, we become more energy efficient, and discover better, or more efficient energy sources, or possibilities which, as technology advances, will become available, all of these reducing demand on oil reserves.
Maybe we should be buiding the big hydro electric dams while the sea level is low, so when this big wall of water comes from melting arctic ice, we can generate electricity with it.
If Science is wrong (which it is) we will have a very pretty sea wall which cost way too much money to build. maybe they could still be used as a tourist site, a glowing example of man's stupidity.