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Post Carbon Newsletter #14 April 2006
1. Funding Update
2. Regional Localization Network Conference: Willits, CA
3. San Francisco Board of Supervisors Passes Peak Oil Resolution
4. Sustainable Energy Forum 2006: Washington DC
5. Featured Local Post Carbon Group: Peoria
6. Energy Farm Demonstration Project Update
7. Calendar of events
8. Next Newsletter Preview
We would like to extend a big thank you to all the Relocalization Network Coordinators who participated in our online survey and congratulate Dave Ewoldt of Sustainable Bellingham, who won a free Oil Age Poster for his survey submission!
As the number of Local Post Carbon Groups continues to grow, we are looking for creative ways to secure the resources we need to support the Network.
To develop a strong, successful Relocalization Network, we must continue to improve our online systems, develop a greater range of useful toolkits and resource packages, and strengthen communications with local group members. By increasing our capacity to support the Network, we can help more local groups share their successes, learn from other members and access the resources they need to make positive change happen in their communities.
There are now 95 Local Post Carbon Groups; however, additional resources are needed to help us support more groups. There are currently 11 groups on our waiting list and we receive many new requests each day from people who want to join the Network.
If you would like to help support the Network, please become a Friend of Post Carbon Institute and encourage your friends and local group members to do the same!
We greatly appreciate the valuable input of our Network members and will keep you all updated as we explore possible membership models.
2. Regional Localization Network Conference: Willits CA
Willits Economic LocaLization (WELL), one of the most active and influential groups in the Relocalization Network, held a regional localization network conference on April 07-09, 2006. The goal of the conference was to provide a meeting place for groups in the same region working on different aspects of the Relocalization strategy to share information, best practices and develop group problem solving skills. The event was a tremendous success, with over 120 attendees from 30 groups participating in presentations, brainstorming and networking sessions. Led by Post Carbon Institute research fellow, Jason Bradford and WELL member Brian Weller, the two day conference provided group members with information, resources, support and incredible inspiration. Post Carbon Institute was honoured to be part of this extraordinary event, and looks forward to continuing to work closely with WELL. The caliber of the attention, wisdom, experience, and future visioning of the participants bodes well for Relocalization in the Northern California region. WELL is already planning another conference to be held in the fall or early next spring. A DVD of the RLNConference will be available from WELL soon.
3. San Francisco Board of Supervisors Passes Peak Oil Resolution
Members of San Francisco Oil Awareness, a Local Post Carbon Group, successfully lobbied the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to unanimously pass a peak oil resolution. The resolution, passed on April 11, 2006, acknowledges the threats posed by peak oil and calls for the establishment of a city-wide study to assess San Francisco's vulnerability to peak oil. Due to the persistence and dedication of the members of this Local Post Carbon Group, San Francisco has become the first city in the United Sates to formally address this issue. The results of the study will indicate possible policies the city may adopt to reduce the impacts of energy supply disruptions and price shocks on San Francisco. The Resolution is available online at www.sfbayoil.org/sfoa/media/resolution_to_board.pdf.
Interviews on this resolution with members of San Francisco Oil Awareness are available online at www.globalpublicmedia.com.
The University of Maryland's Sustainable Development and Conservation Biology Program is hosting "Peak Oil and the Environment", a Sustainable Energy Forum, May 07-09, 2006.
The Forum will bring together scientists, policymakers and advocates from government, environmental NGO's and civil society groups to identify the challenges and opportunities for a sustainable energy future. The forum will address key issues regarding peak oil and its implications including discussions on geologic and production constraints, geopolitical implications of the peak, environmental impacts of alternatives, critical energy policies needed to move forward and much more. Some of the speakers and panelists at this event include, Richard Heinberg, Roscoe Bartlett, Kenneth Deffeyes, William Catton, and Julian Darley. This event will investigate the future direction of energy, environment and society. For more information, see www.beyondpeak.org/index.html.
Please see our calendar for information on other important events.
5. Featured Local Post Carbon Group: Peoria
The Peoria Area Local Post Carbon Group held an all day event hosted by Richard Heinberg on April 1st, attracting over 160 attendees. Co-sponsored and co-organized by Peoria Area World Affairs Council, the event featured presentations from Heinberg and Bill Wilson from Stelle. Heinberg focused on community solutions to Peak Oil. David Thompson, the group coordinator of the Peoria Area Post Carbon Outpost, reported that ". . . what we most wanted to do was to bring the message (of Peak Oil) into mainstream public discourse, and we certainly achieved some progress in that regard." The high turnout resulted from the group's contact with several colleges and universities in the region, the World Affairs Council well-established network of contacts and volunteers, and the organizers' efforts to reach out to the local media. In addition to being on the local television and radio, the Peoria Journal Star published a story about Heinberg and the conference in its business section two weeks prior to the event. Heinberg also taped a one-hour interview for the local public-access cable TV program, "Peace Beat," that Saturday evening.
6. Energy Farm Demonstration Project Update
The local energy farm demonstration farm project is in full swing here in Vancouver as spring approaches. At this point we have selected non-gmo canola, switchgrass, jerusalem artichokes and miscanthus as our main energy crops to plant, and we continue to research other crop possibilities. Designing a biogas digester, which some of these crops and other waste
will ultimately be fed into, is also currently underway. We have started to plant food crops in a greenhouse located on site, and we continue to recruit volunteers to work on preparing soil beds for other crops. The ambient energy monitor has been set up and installed on the farm site, and streams live data that can now be accessed by clicking on a
permanent link: energyfarm.postcarbon.org/Current_Plus.htm
Due to the excitement surrounding this farm project, starting later this month, there will be a monthly farm newsletter that will include the most recent farm activities, updated research on crops, and more extensive documentation of farm progress. If you would like to join the mailing list, please email energyfarm@postcarbon.org
For more information, check out www.postcarbon.org/ideas/farm.
7. Calendar of Events
Over 50 national and local experts will gather to discuss how NYC can prepare for higher energy prices, and begin our transition to a low-energy, sustainable society, while slowing global warming. Cosponsored by Peak Oil NYC, Post Carbon Institute's NYC outpost. Tips and a full report for making NYC more sustainable, and a sample letter and contacts for elected officials, can be found at at www.peakoilnyc.org.
April 27, Community Church of NY, 40 E. 35th St.,
April 28-29, Manhattan Center's Grand Ballroom, 311 West 34th St.
Conference information and registration at www.energysolutionsconference.org.
Sliding scale starting from $25 a day for 1 - 3 days; student, low income & senior rates available.
Hosted by The University of Maryland's Sustainable Development and Conservation Biology Program. This event will be held at The Cloyd Heck Marvin Center located at:
800 21st Street, NW
Washington, DC 20052
For an agenda of the event, a list of speakers and panelists and for more information please follow this link: www.beyondpeak.org/index.html
Energy Vulnerability Summit: Can Local Public Policy Support a Competitive and Sustainable Economy in the Face of Rising Energy Costs? –May 19 – 8:30-3:30 – Petaluma Community Center – Petaluma, California
The Energy Vulnerability Summit will provide a forum for North Bay elected and appointed officials to explore the local implications of rising energy costs. Richard Heinberg will discuss the main factors influencing energy costs and supplies and Julian Darley will give examples of on how other communities are preparing to diversify their local energy supplies through investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions. This first session is limited to elected and appointed officials only, but a follow-up summit is planned for September 29 that will include business leaders and the public. For further information contact ecoleader@ecoleader.org or (707) 578-9133
8. Next Newsletter Preview
- Stay tuned for a review of the Energy Vulnerability Summit in Sonoma County, CA, May 19, 2006.
- Watch for many new and exciting events taking place over the next few months. To be posted on our events calendar and reviewed in our next newsletter.
- Also stay tuned for Action Reports from local Post Carbon groups...
The Post Carbon Institute encourages the following courses of action:
The Post Carbon Institute newsletter is designed to inform you of the work of the Institute, which is to help educate and prepare communities for a world of declining oil production. For North Americans and those in the British Isles and New Zealand, peak oil is compounded by heavy dependence on now declining natural gas production.
Help us get this message out to the rest of the world -- please forward this email and encourage your friends, family members, co-workers, planners, policy makers, and politicians to subscribe.
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