Minnesota Legislature
HF 995
as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am
KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.
1.1A resolution
1.2memorializing the Governor to take action to prepare a plan of response and
1.3preparation to meet the challenges of Peak Oil.
1.4WHEREAS, world oil production is nearing its point of maximum production (Peak Oil)
1.5and will enter a prolonged period of irreversible decline leading to ever-increasing prices; and
1.6WHEREAS, the United States has only two percent of the world's oil reserves, produces
1.7eight percent of the world's oil, and consumes 25 percent of the world's oil, of which nearly 60
1.8percent is imported from foreign countries; and
1.9WHEREAS, the decline in global oil production threatens to increase resource competition
1.10and geopolitical instability, and lead to greater impoverishment and global economic crisis; and
1.11WHEREAS, national oil companies own 72 percent of remaining oil reserves and 55
1.12percent of remaining gas reserves, and resource nationalism is increasingly dominating decisions
1.13of oil and gas development and trade relationships; and
1.14WHEREAS, the availability of affordable petroleum is critical to the functioning of our
1.15transportation system, the production of our food and of petrochemical-based consumer goods,
1.16the paving of roads, the lubrication of all machinery, and myriad other parts of the economy; and
1.17WHEREAS, Minnesota is entirely dependent on external supplies of petroleum, including
1.18the crude oil processed in refineries within the state; and
1.19WHEREAS, price signals of petroleum scarcity are likely to come too late to trigger
1.20effective mitigation efforts in the private sector, and governmental intervention at all levels of
1.21government will be required to avert social and economic chaos; and
2.1WHEREAS, the Department of Energy-sponsored study (the Hirsch Report) on mitigation
2.2of Peak Oil demonstrated that a 20-year lead time is required for effective mitigation, while
2.3current measures supported by the federal government will replace only three weeks' worth of
2.4gasoline consumption by 2012; and
2.5WHEREAS, alternative sources of transport fuels from coal and natural gas require high
2.6energy inputs and increase total carbon emissions; and biomass-based fuels compete with soil
2.7fertility, impacting agricultural sustainability; and
2.8WHEREAS, substitution of petroleum with other fossil fuels threatens even greater damage
2.9to water, air, soil, and species diversity through their extraction and combustion; and
2.10WHEREAS, North American production of natural gas has most likely peaked, and an
2.11increasing percentage of Minnesota's electricity supply is generated from natural gas; and
2.12WHEREAS, Minnesota has demonstrated leadership in confronting challenges of
2.13environmental quality and energy security, promoting environmental and economic equity, and
2.14has a rich diversity of citizens committed to maintaining the state's long-term viability; NOW,
2.15THEREFORE,
2.16BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the State of Minnesota acknowledges the
2.17unprecedented challenges of Peak Oil; and
2.18BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature supports the adoption of a global Oil
2.19Depletion Protocol to provide transparency in oil markets, control price swings, address issues
2.20of equity in access to remaining oil resources, and provide a framework of predictability within
2.21which governments can adjust to increasing oil scarcity; and
2.22BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature supports the undertaking of a statewide
2.23assessment study in order to inventory state activities and their corollary resource requirements,
2.24evaluating the impact in each area to a decline in petroleum availability and to higher prices, with
2.25the aim of developing a comprehensive state plan of action and response to Peak Oil; and
2.26BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the governor should recommend funding and should
2.27give direction to state departments for the development of a response plan as soon as possible; and
2.28 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota is
2.29directed to prepare an enrolled copy of this memorial and transmit it to the Governor of the
2.30State of Minnesota.
1.2memorializing the Governor to take action to prepare a plan of response and
1.3preparation to meet the challenges of Peak Oil.
1.4WHEREAS, world oil production is nearing its point of maximum production (Peak Oil)
1.5and will enter a prolonged period of irreversible decline leading to ever-increasing prices; and
1.6WHEREAS, the United States has only two percent of the world's oil reserves, produces
1.7eight percent of the world's oil, and consumes 25 percent of the world's oil, of which nearly 60
1.8percent is imported from foreign countries; and
1.9WHEREAS, the decline in global oil production threatens to increase resource competition
1.10and geopolitical instability, and lead to greater impoverishment and global economic crisis; and
1.11WHEREAS, national oil companies own 72 percent of remaining oil reserves and 55
1.12percent of remaining gas reserves, and resource nationalism is increasingly dominating decisions
1.13of oil and gas development and trade relationships; and
1.14WHEREAS, the availability of affordable petroleum is critical to the functioning of our
1.15transportation system, the production of our food and of petrochemical-based consumer goods,
1.16the paving of roads, the lubrication of all machinery, and myriad other parts of the economy; and
1.17WHEREAS, Minnesota is entirely dependent on external supplies of petroleum, including
1.18the crude oil processed in refineries within the state; and
1.19WHEREAS, price signals of petroleum scarcity are likely to come too late to trigger
1.20effective mitigation efforts in the private sector, and governmental intervention at all levels of
1.21government will be required to avert social and economic chaos; and
2.1WHEREAS, the Department of Energy-sponsored study (the Hirsch Report) on mitigation
2.2of Peak Oil demonstrated that a 20-year lead time is required for effective mitigation, while
2.3current measures supported by the federal government will replace only three weeks' worth of
2.4gasoline consumption by 2012; and
2.5WHEREAS, alternative sources of transport fuels from coal and natural gas require high
2.6energy inputs and increase total carbon emissions; and biomass-based fuels compete with soil
2.7fertility, impacting agricultural sustainability; and
2.8WHEREAS, substitution of petroleum with other fossil fuels threatens even greater damage
2.9to water, air, soil, and species diversity through their extraction and combustion; and
2.10WHEREAS, North American production of natural gas has most likely peaked, and an
2.11increasing percentage of Minnesota's electricity supply is generated from natural gas; and
2.12WHEREAS, Minnesota has demonstrated leadership in confronting challenges of
2.13environmental quality and energy security, promoting environmental and economic equity, and
2.14has a rich diversity of citizens committed to maintaining the state's long-term viability; NOW,
2.15THEREFORE,
2.16BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the State of Minnesota acknowledges the
2.17unprecedented challenges of Peak Oil; and
2.18BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature supports the adoption of a global Oil
2.19Depletion Protocol to provide transparency in oil markets, control price swings, address issues
2.20of equity in access to remaining oil resources, and provide a framework of predictability within
2.21which governments can adjust to increasing oil scarcity; and
2.22BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature supports the undertaking of a statewide
2.23assessment study in order to inventory state activities and their corollary resource requirements,
2.24evaluating the impact in each area to a decline in petroleum availability and to higher prices, with
2.25the aim of developing a comprehensive state plan of action and response to Peak Oil; and
2.26BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the governor should recommend funding and should
2.27give direction to state departments for the development of a response plan as soon as possible; and
2.28 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota is
2.29directed to prepare an enrolled copy of this memorial and transmit it to the Governor of the
2.30State of Minnesota.