The conference features three days of panel discussions and seminars that preview the eventual repeat of high prices and resource scarcity which could send our fragile economy into a tailspin. With the U.S. importing 64 percent of its oil – sending almost $25 billion overseas to purchase 354 million barrels of oil during June alone - examining the origins of our most critical fuel source becomes more pressing over time. While America focuses on job losses and tight credit, the Association for the Study of Peak Oil believes America - and much of the world - largely ignores the issue of peak oil, and fails to plan for its enormous socio-economic implications.

With more than 20 internationally recognized experts already confirmed, ASPO’s event will present critical new insights, update production and consumption trends and forecasts, and present intelligent, reasonable responses to the challenging predicament of oil depletion. Comprising a broad array of disciplines related to fossil fuel, finance, geology, economics, resource use, and public policy, the speakers bring unparalleled expertise to ASPO-USA's fifth annual conference.

The three basics of oil are said to be geology, economics, and politics - and politics is a major issue with one of America's primary suppliers, Venezuela. Experts from Latin America slated to examine that link include Carlos Rossi, a Caracas-based professor, now principal economist for the Venezuelan Hydrocarbon Association AVHI; Dr. Marcio Rocha Mello, employed for 24 years by Petrobras and developer of the major offshore Tupi oilfield in Brazil; and RoseAnn Franco, a risk consultant employed by PFC Energy for international oil and gas projects in South America.

Placing the expansive topic of fossil fuel energy before the public, international journalists who will speak include Chris Skrebowski of London, editor of the Petroleum Review and author of the Oilfields Megaprojects Report; Peter Maass, a contributing writer to The New York Times Magazine and author of "Crude World: The Violent Twilight of Oil," to be released in September, and David Shields of Mexico City, author of "Pemex: An Uncertain Future."

Burgeoning demand from Asian powers like China and India represent a complex brew of resource nationalism, pollution and population problems. Chronicling the explosive growth and impact of China's energy needs will be Mike Rodgers of PFC Energy, with a long working history in that country. Thoughtful analysis on the Middle East, Russia, and the rest of the world will be provided by Ray Leonard, who has been employed by Kuwait Energy Co. and Yukos in Russia; Jeremy Gilbert, retired Chief Petroleum Engineer from British Petroleum (BP), and Kjell Aleklett, Professor of Physics at Uppsala University, Sweden, leader of Global Energy Systems research, the Uppsala Hydrocarbon Depletion Study Group, and the President of ASPO International.

Several Oil Drum staff members will be speaking, including Jason Bradford, Jeff Vail, and Gail Tverberg.