Peak Moment

Jason Bradford and Brian Weller, co-founders of Willits Economic LocaLization (WELL), discuss their group's approach to educating and enrolling their townsfolk about declining oil and the imperative to reduce dependencies on imported energy, food, and other goods. They view their group as a mid-WIFE: a Watchdog,Incubator, Facilitator and Educator.

Peak Moment 88: City Councilor Scott Walker of Port Townsend, Washington is working to build a walkable, bikeable community where the car is not essential. As a result, the town has designated manyundeveloped streets and "connectors" as non-motorized routes. He says, "Build safe, convenient facilities for walking and biking, and they sprout people." Watch Janaia test ride Scott's electric bike, which "flattens the town" as if there were no hills.

Peak Moment 92: Lorraine Wilde's non-profit Community Car Share organization in Bellingham, Washington received startup help from manyquarters. Established car-sharing organizations mentored her, individuals offered low-interest private loans, a state grant enabled them to purchase a hybrid, and the city provided a fixed parking place by the bus station. Learn how she did it, then set one up in your community!

Student leader Tylor Middlestadt recounts how Empower Poly (San Luis Obispo, CA) is bringing students to the table--with staff,faculty, and local communities -- to shape a greener future. Students successfully pushed for environmentally-friendly designfor the nation's largest student housing project. Inspired by the UC Go Solar campaign, students formed Renew CSU to advocaterenewable energy projects on campuses statewide.

Earth needs humans to figure out our shared destiny, says AlanSeid, whose interest is both the outer and inner dimensions ofsustainability. Outside there's ecology, social systems andeconomics (e.g., in Permaculture). Inside is the psychological dimension of personal and group values and intentions. How do wemeet people where they are, engender respect, promote crucialinformation-sharing, and motivate change?

How will rising oil prices affect low- and middle-class lives? Sociologist and professor Rowan Wolf sees at-risk populations growing while government services and class divides are increasingly strained. A member of the Portland Peak Oil Task Force, she discusses relocalizing our economies, to counter globalization based on an unsupportable grow-or-die economic model.

Russ Teall has developed biodiesel production equipment since the industry was in its infancy. He discusses biodiesel's advantages over petroleum diesel, and the land-for-food vs. fuel issue. His projects involve small scale refineries using multiple oil feedstocks, decentralized production facilities, and oil-rich plants grown on marginal lands.

Cal Broomhead and Melissa Capria of the Energy & Climate Program discuss the rationale, aggressive plans, and activities for city-wide energy self-reliance and greenhouse gas reduction. Tools include energy efficiency in buildings, transit alternatives, alternative vehicle fuels, generating electricity with renewable energy, and solid waste reduction.

Peak Moment 73: Smart municipalities are planning and preparing for energy vulnerability and climate change. Daniel
Lerch, manager of the Post Carbon Cities project, has prepared a guidebook including case studies of cities large and small
planning how to maintain essential services in the face of energy and climate uncertainty.