Steve Pomplun described one city's preparations for the decline of oil and Earthwatch Radio published an excellent interview with the mayor:
Like many cities, Sebastopol, California, is trying to become more sustainable. But Sebastopol has taken its efforts a step further. The north coast city of 8,000 is developing emergency plans in case of an energy crisis.
As mayor last year, Larry Robinson learned about the issue of "peak oil," the point at which world petroleum production will no longer be able to keep up with demand. Some experts say that day is only a few years away, and when it happens, prices could rise sharply. Robinson says the city is developing contingency plans.
"How will the city continue to be able to meet its responsibilities to its citizens to provide things like water and sewer services and public safety, etc., when gasoline hits five dollars a gallon, eight dollars a gallon, ten dollars a gallon? When electricity hits 25 cents a kilowatt/hour, when it hits 50 cents a kilowatt/hour?"
Sebastopol is converting fire trucks and other equipment to biodiesel. It's installing photovoltaic solar systems on city buildings and wells to keep things running in an emergency. Robinson says it's a pursuit of sustainability on a faster timeline.
"The issue of 'peak oil' puts the fundamental principles of sustainability into a much sharper focus. What has to be done are the same things that we would have to do in order to become a sustainable society. But the potential crisis that the peak oil event would bring about makes all of those issues much more urgent."
Sebastopol is the first American city to begin to plan for life after the oil peak.
Listen to an excellent interview of Sebastopol Mayor Larry Robinson on the city's peak oil preparations on
Global Public Media.
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