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The Energy Resource Scarcity / Peak Oil task force (ERSPO) will hold it's first meeting August 6th, a video conference co-sponsored by Sustainable Bellingham and Bellingham Technical College. Following the short introductory meeting will be a video conference with Daniel Lerch, author of Post Carbon Cities: Planning for Energy and Climate Uncertainty, and John Kaufman of the Oregon Department of Energy and former lead staff for the Portland Peak Oil Task Force. Both now are staff at the Post Carbon Institute. Task force members will be joined for the video conference by invited guests including others from the task force applicant pool as well as members of the County Council, Bellingham Council and perhaps other city councils from around the county. Due to limited seating, this meeting is by invitation only...if you have an interest and would like to be invited, please email
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Proponents of local-level planning have said that we face a future of increasing uncertainty in energy supplies. Area residents will benefit from
greater attention to this topic because declining energy supplies will affect people's most basic needs, such as food supply, water delivery,
health care and home electrical use. Participants in the 18-member task force will be jointly selected and appointed by Bellingham Mayor Dan Pike and Whatcom County Executive Pete Kremen. The deadline to submit applications is June 30. More information and application forms can be found on the City of Bellingham and Whatcom County websites. Organizers seek members who represent a broad range of government, community and business interests. Ideal candidates will have a general knowledge of energy scarcity issues, with more in-depth understanding of issues in one or more of the following areas: land use and transportation, food and agriculture, public and social services, economics, energy and water, and community education and preparation. The task force is expected to be self-directed and self-managing. Members are expected to contribute to conducting research, documenting
findings, participating in committee and sub-committee meetings, and reporting recommendations to city and county officials. Purpose The Energy Resource Scarcity/Peak Oil (Energy Task Force) will examine the energy vulnerabilities of local economic, social and environmental
infrastructures and recommend appropriate changes to ensure that those infrastructures are resilient in the face of shifting energy markets. Charge to the Task Force The Energy Task Force is a limited-duration, self-managed work group expected to complete the following work by the end of 2008: - Use current, credible data and information to examine the issues of peak oil and natural gas production and the related economic and societal consequences;
- Seek community and business input on the impacts of changes to energy resource availability, rising energy prices and proposed adaptations;
- Develop recommendations to the City and County Councils on strategies these governments can take to mitigate the impacts of declining energy supplies in areas, including, but not limited to: transportation, business and home energy use, agriculture and food security, health care and social services, land use planning, water and wastewater treatment, and local energy development. These recommendations and proposed outcomes will include suggestions as to appropriate implementing bodies (governmental and
non-governmental), market-based and regulatory programs/incentives, as well as possible funding sources. - Propose methods of educating residents and businesses about this issue in order to optimize the use of and therefore reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, electricity and other energy sources subject to resource scarcity.
- Deliver the report of recommendations to the Mayor, Executive and the City and County Councils during 2008.
Membership The Energy Taskforce will include up to 18 members selected jointly by the Mayor of Bellingham and the Whatcom County Executive, representing a broad range of government, community and business interests. Members typically will have a general knowledge of energy scarcity issues as well as a more specific understanding of issues in at least one of the following areas: land use and transportation, food and agriculture, public and social services (including public education, health, social services, utilities and public safety), economic transition (including retail, manufacturing, service, tourism), energy and water, and community education and preparation. Original news release here (City of Bellingham): http://www.cob.org/issues/energy-task-force.aspx And here (Whatcom County): http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/executive/news/2008/06/energy_taskforce.jsp Recommended Reading! Breifing Paper on Peak Oil Task Force, prepared for city and county councils
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