Report #: 17
Name of Topic: Preparing for Peak Oil in Western NC
Name of Leader: Angela Leonard
Names of Participants: Karl Odom, Liz Logan, Irene Wright
Previous story regarding this topic if there is one:
Angela learned about peak oil three years ago. It has been a big concern since them because it is a life-changing event—and is emotionally difficult to get your mind around it—people are going to die. People and government and media need to get together to ameliorate it.
Highlights of Discussion (present story unfolding):
Background: US peaked in 1972, There is controversy about when the globe will peak.
Questions:
Q: How to get around? A: Live close enough to walk to town center or on a bus line.
Q: What about biofuels? A: The volume of fuel that we will need to replace is huge. Do we have enough land for oil and crops? (no)
Q: What about replacing rail systems? No discussion on the national level. The US now has to import our steel.
Q: Solar? Very expensive, tax breaks require a certain level of income. Subsidies are needed.
Q: Current self-sustaining farms? Probably still use fossil fuels for their tractors, pesticides and fertilizer.
Q: Haven’t people been warning us about doomsday for centuries? A: It is different as oil is a finite resource.
Q: People with land? Plant with grass and mow (social pressure to keep it attractive).
Resources:
CommunitySolution.org
Relocalization.net—see what other groups are doing.
Post Carbon Institute
Meetup’s Oil Awareness Groups (Liz’s is at http://oilawareness.meetup.com/67 )
Matt Simmons’ Twilight in the Desert
Regional Transportation Authority
Robert Eides plan for transit
Ned Doyle for solar and wind
Concerns:
People who are not in sustainability circles.
Transportation
Bus schedules
Food
Medical
Heat
Cooking
Future Action/Next Steps:
Community education
Once people are introduced to the topic, to have some organization to plug into
Talk to regional Commissioners, Councils,
Resources Required (who should be involved, finances, non-paid labour, other):
To be determined
