Could Global Warming Actually Reduce Global Oil Use?

Gulf of Mexico: Three refineries were recently closed in Texas,
leading to another record price for oil: $80 a barrel. The reason
for the closings of the rigs, which produce together about 850,000
barrels a day, was the passage of Hurricane Humberto. OPEC
stated that the price raise was not nature but the dollar.

With about 25% of US oil coming from the Gulf of Mexico, could
more severe nature lead to even higher oil prices? Could these
drastic spikes actually force nations like the US and China to
push forward toward alternative energy faster than previously
thought? Could Mother Nature, by hitting the consumer pocket
actually be helping her future, and ours?

$80 a barrel is something that seems to signal a need for change
now. No one knows how much oil Saudi Arabia has, and OPEC
is not going to put out reserve stats, so every closed oil rig
means more problems for SUV drivers, plastic bag users,
and an oil-based economy.

Have we as a world reached critical mass, or will we still hold
on to our fear of real change and our doom?