Will It Ever Run Out?

ENERGY experts theorize that oil supplies may eventually become exhausted.¹ Some estimate that world oil reserves will last from 63 to 95 years more. In the meantime,² other energy sources are being tapped,³ some of which have been used for decades. Among those that are renewable – or can be replenished quickly – are the following types: solar, wind, wave, hydroelectric, and ocean thermal. But at present, major problems remain involving their production and distribution. The prospect of exhausting non-renewable⁴ energy sources and only, then turning to renewable ones is certainly gloomy.⁵ Oil companies are ready to take advantage of the limited time that they say oil is calculated to last. Unfortunately, there is every reason to expect that the social and environmental problems associated with oil will last just as long. Needless to say, the root оf these problems is not oil itself. It is man's greed⁶ and thirst for power that has given oil its bad reputation.

¹ exhausted - истощенный

² in the meantime - между тем

³ tap - начинать использовать

⁴ non-renewable - невозобновляющийся

⁵ gloomy - мрачный

⁶ greed – жадность

1. What will the future for oil be?

2. Will oil reserves last forever?

3. What other energy sources may be used instead of oil?

4. What are renewable sources?

5. What is the root of the social and environmental problems associated with oil?