In the mid 90's idiots decided to eliminate the US strategic helium reserve, flooding the market, which explains things like helium balloons. Eventually, the s

In the mid 90's idiots decided to eliminate the US strategic helium reserve, flooding the market, which explains things like helium balloons. Eventually, the stockpile will be entirely drawn down, and, costs will go up. That is what "running out" means in this case. The reserve itself was filled from a series of government subsidized natural gas plants, so, it's possible to create a new giant bubble under some unused chunk of the southwest if it was required.