It is partly due to speculation, but as Seth pointed out, the world's energy levels are SOARING as we are putting too many people on the planet to support that kind of dpendence on a commodity that is non-renewable.
Unless we have another MAJOR world war, this problem can and will get worse. Baby boomers are retiring, their kids are driving NEW vehicles on average (I was lucky to drive the 2 yr old third family vehicle, but that was a rarity here in Austin in 86, most kids in school had to buy their own or share one with other siblings if they even had that resource in their family), American population is booming due to foreigners coming in (our birth rates have DECLINED, not INCREASED), we are the world's largest energy consumer, but China is not far behind from surpassing us, and their population FAR surpasses ours, and let's not forget India.
And as Pun pointed out, there are about 20 million illegals already in the U.S., and most of them drive cars now, so BOOM, needs increase!