Gualala Arts Lecture Series presents:
Energy: The Limits of Growth

with Tim Tyler
Monday, October 19, 2009, 7:00 p.m.
Admission is $5

Tim Tyler's presentation on Monday, October 19 at 7:00 p.m. is titled "Energy: The Limits of Growth." It compiles the thinking of leading authorities to focus on the realities of this very complex and timely topic without the obfuscations of special interests, geo-politics and economic gain.

Tyler, a retired independent consultant in computer information services, first encountered the question of energy policy and politics when he was hired in the 1970s by the National Bureau of Standards to do a study on "wired cities" using Jacksonville, Florida as a model.

Multiple on-site interviews were conducted with city leaders starting with the mayor, and a financial model was constructed. The biggest "potential" business development in Jacksonville at that time was "Offshore Power Systems," a business venture that planned to "manufacture" nuclear power plants and float them to where they were needed. A lot of changes have occurred during and after the 1970s.

Since then, there has been increased awareness that fossil fuels of all kinds (oil, coal, natural gas) are finite resources, and that the world economy is dependent upon low-cost fossil fuels. While numerous books have been written on this subject, one of the best was "Out of Gas - The End of the Age of Oil" by David Goodstein (then vice provost at the California Institute of Technology). This book will serve as common ground for the talk, which is based on conversations with the following people:

• The retired president and chairman of a major energy company.
• A currently active businessman and philanthropist whose family was engaged in the "oil business" from its earliest days.
• The owner of the largest private solar array in California. (Who also once owned three electric cars.)
• A "retired" physicist who continues to do research on "cold fusion."
• A former Federal magistrate who read the book over a weekend the year it was published.
• The semi-retired physicist who brought the book to my attention.

Having lived through the last depression, Tyler will also give his opinion of why today's problems are "different." This will provide insights and help clarify some of the real issues. It promises to be a most informative evening. Admission is $5.

The Gualala Arts Center, located at 46501 Old State Highway in Gualala, CA,
is open weekdays 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and weekends from noon to 4:00 p.m.
Please call (707) 884-1138 for more information, or email info@gualalaarts.org.

Serving the coastal communities of northern Sonoma & southern Mendocino Counties.