The Peak Oil Crisis: A Memorandum for the Board

Memorandum for: The Chairman, Arlington County Board

Subject: Energy Task Force

First, let me congratulate you on your proposal to make a major effort during the coming year to slow the county’s contribution to the world’s emissions. Front-page coverage in the Washington Post insured the story was repeated around the country and indeed around the world.

I was particularly pleased to note that part of your proposal was to establish a citizen Energy Transition Task Force to advise the county regarding policies and actions that might aid the transition to a world in which substantially less fossil fuel will be used. The term “energy transition” is a good one for it encompasses those policies and actions that are desirable to slow global warming as well as to prepare for the inevitable arrival of oil depletion.

In researching what other cities have been doing about planning for oil depletion, I came across a preliminary report from the City of Portland (OR) peak oil task force that is worth looking at. Portland established its task force last May and so under the doctrine of “not reinventing the wheel,” it is well worth noting some of the insights they have developed during seven months of deliberations.

Falls Church News-Press