U.S. oil consumption keeps on dropping, ExxonMobil execs admit
If you know what the acronym VMT stands for, then this story probably won't come as much of a surprise. VMT stands for vehicle-miles traveled, and Americans drove their VMT numbers way, way down last year. VMT is just one way to measure demand for oil, and the decrease in VMT plus the rise of fuel-efficient vehicles - and fuel-free electric cars - means that the oil industry is gearing up for something new: the end of the oil slurping era. You don't need to take my word for it, the industry-friendly Wall Street Journal says it's true.
Yes, Exxon Mobil executives now say that consumption of gasoline in the U.S. has peaked. [A quick aside: does this strike anyone else as a different and highly ironic type of peak oil?] The lifestyle changes that you, I and everyone else is making (intentionally or because of the down economy) are having an impact. One indicator: the WSJ says, "There are 11% fewer places to pump gas in the U.S. today than there were a little over a decade ago." Of course, as we slow down, places like India and China are ramping up, so global demand won't necessarily decrease. There's much more in the Journal and a video about the closing gas stations after the jump.
[Source: WSJ via Domestic Fuel]
Photo by Bill in Ash Vegas. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
gorr 2:07PM (4/14/2009)
All they ever sold was unnecessary, not powerful, few range, costly and polluting. It dosn't just pollute lungs, air, water and soil including foods like fishs of beefs eating chemical plants. It pollute too engine oil and spark plugs and intake and exhaust valves. Mosus said and i repeat to separate the water molecule in 2 to make unlimited and non-polluting free fuel for eternity, that's all. I will accept no arguments against the state of paradise now on earth. I never compromise abouth sustanibility of earth contrary to scientology, catholics, buddists, mormons, jehovah, mohamed, battists, cia, epa, canadian goverment, hollywood
corporate artists, rock and roll from england like p.floyd and the beathles, etc. Just me believe in eterny without pain. 100% of peoples (except me) don't believe it and effectively live in pain for eternity by their own wishs.
Reply
gabe 8:47PM (4/14/2009)
My mind was just blown...
contact 12:41PM (4/15/2009)
Gorr for president....and then an assassination.
gorr 4:47PM (4/17/2009)
I said and i repeat
''All they ever sold was unnecessary, not powerful, few range, costly and polluting. It dosn't just pollute lungs, air, water and soil including foods like fishs of beefs eating chemical plants. It pollute too engine oil and spark plugs and intake and exhaust valves. Mosus said and i repeat to separate the water molecule in 2 to make unlimited and non-polluting free fuel for eternity, that's all. I will accept no arguments against the state of paradise now on earth. I never compromise abouth sustanibility of earth contrary to scientology, catholics, buddists, mormons, jehovah, mohamed, battists, cia, epa, canadian goverment, hollywood
corporate artists, rock and roll from england like p.floyd and the beathles, etc. Just me believe in eterny without pain. 100% of peoples (except me) don't believe it and effectively live in pain for eternity by their own wishs ''
What is your problem.?
Chris M 5:50PM (4/17/2009)
Gorr, the problem is that your posts don't make much sense, you really need to proofread more.
Consider this bit "including foods like fishs of beefs eating chemical plants". Wow, imagine that! Monster amphibious bovines with fins consuming industrial areas! Hey, that's basically what it means.
Or this bit "Mosus said and i repeat to separate the water molecule in 2 to make unlimited and non-polluting free fuel for eternity, that's all" Nothing like that anywhere in the Bible, Mosus didn't say that. There is a verse mentioning Mosus parting the waters of the Red Sea for the Children of Israel to pass, but there is no mention of "water molecule", no mention of "free fuel for eternity", certainly nowhere does the Bible ever mention Hydrogen, Oxygen, or Electrolysis. In short, it isn't biblically based, you've made the whole thing up.
Then there is the long list of random people/groups/things that are unrelated, thrown in for no obvious reason.
Finally, there is the utterly arrogant (and 100% incorrect) assertion that you're the only one that "believe in eterny without pain." Dude, you're an ordinary guy without any special super powers, making grandiose claims just makes you look rediculous.
Dave 2:08PM (4/14/2009)
Does any of this have to do with alternatives being available?
Reply
Ignatius 2:12PM (4/14/2009)
Those 'alternatives' are far and few inbetween. There are only a few handfuls of company-built electric cars on the road, not just home-built prototypes.
GoodCheer 3:47PM (4/14/2009)
And alternative fuel sources would not affect VMT.
I suspect the high unemployment rate is the biggest factor (fewer commutes to work, fewer trips out to eat etc).
Tim 2:15PM (4/14/2009)
Of course we’re using less gas!
Just think of all those people who are NOT commuting because they no longer have jobs and those who are NOT shopping & vacationing because they are afraid of losing their jobs.
When we are afraid that our income may go down, we spend less.
When gov’t is afraid that their income may go down they tax more and spend more.
John Maynard Keynes was a gay brain dead FOOL and those politicians (Obama & Bush) and economists who follow his voodoo economic theories should be hanged.
Reply
Carney 10:09AM (4/16/2009)
Calling for the death of any past or present US president is not merely immoral and illegal, but most unwise.
If I were ABG, regardless of the content of your other posts and their merit (or lack thereof), I'd at least ban you.
ShaunneyCakes 2:32PM (4/14/2009)
This will not shut up the Peak Oil Anarchists. They will continue spreading their factless nonsense to whoever is dumb enough to listen.
Reply
meme 3:07PM (4/14/2009)
"A quick aside: does this strike anyone else as a different and highly ironic type of peak oil?"
It's what I and many others have been saying for years. I doubt we've yet hit it, mind you, but I expect to see it hit in 20-30 years globally, 10-20 years domestically. And despite the repeated doomsaying of the peak oil crowd, there will be absolutely no problem maintaining sufficient production during that timeframe, apart from the normal pattern of supply/demand swings due to inaccurate demand forecasts and speculation.
Reply
Andy 4:05PM (4/14/2009)
Bear in mind that big oil *wants* us to notice this. That is not to say that it is untrue, but just that they will work to make everyone hear it. When the economy grows again, so will oil use, and they won't be so keen to speak up about it. They have bill boards up in my area with sophisticated looking people saying "I will use less energy." What does this mean? Well ask yourself: how does it make you feel? If it makes you feel good and like we're making progress in going green, they've succeeded. If you feel other people are cutting back on use, then you don't have to! Picture an alchoholic saying "I'm cutting back! Really I am!"
What they don't want us to do is look at ourselves and ask "but am *I* using less oil?" lest we actually change our ways. *That* could cause actual systemic change and is what is in their interest to fight.
Reply
mike!!ekiM 8:51PM (4/14/2009)
1) We're only talking about a 7% usage drop, during a Depression, with nearly 20% of the population that want's jobs without.
2) From the WSJ article: Gas usage in the US as gone from 2.5 million barrels per day in 1949 to about 11 million barrels per day: Talk about your 300 HP SUV "sucker" tax, and I need a 500 HP Pickup "sucker" tax.
There is a Global Drought caused by Global Warming, this is a drop in the bucket.
And about Chinese demand? from the Article:
Exxon expects China's passenger-vehicle fuel demand to triple by 2030, as the number of cars per capita grows along with its economy. The company is starting up a giant refinery complex in China that will feed a network of 750 gas stations.
So, China's demand will TRIPLE. What will this do to US Prices? ( Price will go UP) Will there be a tight fuel supply market? ( Supplies will Tighten ).
And what about Drill-Baby-Drill? The oil industry has pulled back on drilling. Why they want off-shore drilling permit, when they don't drill on the Federal Lands they currently have available is a mystery.
Reply
Mike!!ekiM 8:55PM (4/14/2009)
What I'm saying is with Chinese and Indian Demand expected to at least increase 300% the Smart Money should be on Electric Cars.
In other words the 2010 Prius doesn't cut it. You Need a PLUG.
Carney 3:59PM (4/15/2009)
"Why they want off-shore drilling permit, when they don't drill on the Federal Lands they currently have available is a mystery."
No it isn't.
It's a combination of the prospect of endless lawsuits and stunt protests on land (despite the leases) and the fact that these sites are too expensive to make money on,
vs
The vastly fewer protesters and cameras offshore and the much greater potential of the site.
philmro 4:56PM (11/06/2009)
There is absolutely no rational relationship between the supply of oil and the price. Conclusion it must be the value of the dollar: Yes too many dollars sidelined after the stock market collapse flooding the commodity market looking to make a quick buck. Talk about your dangerous bubble, those oil companies with 2008 record breaking profits will be banging on the Treasury Departments door looking for a bail out Too big to fail?
Reply