1. Reaching back beyond the 1970s: Relocalization
2. The post-peak planner
3. Westerly (RI) wraps up peak oil task force
4. Haines Borough's (AK) next steps
5. California rethinks energy-land relationship
6. Recent news

The 1970s saw a wide variety of responses to energy shortages, from informal rationing at gas stations to national speed limits. Such multi-pronged and creative approaches are becoming evident in our new energy crisis, too, with giant California re-thinking the relationship between energy, buildings and land use, and small cities like Montpelier recruiting residents to watch out for their at-risk neighbors during the cold Vermont winter.

In this issue of the Post Carbon Cities newsletter, we take a look at some responses to the 1970s oil crises, as well as some new ideas that cities are pursuing today.

1. Reaching back beyond the 1970s: Relocalization

By Daniel Lerch, Post Carbon Cities Program Manager

Recently I wrote a short article on what we learned --and didn't learn-- from the oil crises of the 1970s. We flirted with conservation and renewable energy, but quickly turned back to our squandering ways when a glut of cheap oil flooded world markets in the 1980s.

We also tried a few urban revitalization solution that ultimately proved poorly thought-through, or simply naïve. For example, we imported European-style pedestrian malls without the context of European densities, and pushed a new generation of heavy-handed planning and design solutions that wiped out human-scale streets and neighborhoods. Case in point: New London (Connecticut) recently decided to overhaul its historic Parade plaza, which was mangled by bad design in the 1970s. [Read more]

[Back to top]

2. The post-peak planner

"Without a diverse transportation network that includes lower energy options, we’re stuck miles from where we need to be without any other way to get there that isn’t economically expensive."

Aaron Newton is a sustainable land planner in Concord, North Carolina who recently co-wrote a book, A Nation of Farmers, with blogger Sharon Astyk. We asked him a few questions about how peak oil informs his planning work, how he integrates sustainability into his practice, and his concept of "infill farming."

"Land planners developing new communities shouldn’t just be thinking about how the future residents will get their water, natural gas and electricity. They should be considering how those residents will be getting their food as well."

Read more of our interview with Aaron Newton on our website.

[Back to top]

3. Westerly (RI) wraps up peak oil task force

A new peak oil task force in Westerly, Rhode Island did its job remarkably fast. It took only five months from formation in March to the release of a final report, which was well-received by the Town Council this month. The Council seemed to pick up on the sense of urgency, asking the task force to continue its work and to collaborate with the Town Solicitor to carry out its recommendations. Read more here about the report.

[Back to top]

4. Haines Borough (AK) taking next steps

Although towns throughout the northeastern United States are concerned about their residents' ability to heat their homes this coming winter, many Alaskan residents will face even greater risk. Spurred to action, the small town of Haines Borough, Alaska created an Energy Task Force a year and a half ago. A final report was released in February, and Haines Borough has since resolved to create an Energy and Sustainability Commission and contract an Energy and Sustainability Coordinator.

The time-limited Coordinator position is expected to fund itself with increased energy efficiency in the town's operations. The resolution notes that the borough's fiscal year 2009 budget deficit can largely be attributed to the 40% increase in energy cost, a problem that is similar to, if perhaps more severe than, other towns' budget situations.

[Back to top]

5. California rethinks energy-land relationship

Last month, the state of California because the first in the United States to institute a statewide green building code. The new rules will mandate that all new construction reduce energy use by 15%, water use by 20% and water for landscaping by 50%.

There's also a lot of talk recently about California's SB 375, a bill that would prioritize transportation funding according to emissions impacts, thereby encouraging density and discouraging sprawl. It's still making its way through the legislature, but the conversations it's spurring are important and long overdue.

[Back to top]

6. Recent news

	City Councils essential to greenhouse gas fight Published 9 Jul 2008 by Gristmill Buildings, their construction and maintenance, account for nearly half of U.S. energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. That means city councils and other code-setting entities are in the perfect position to make great strides in cutting energy use, and Architecture 2030 has tools to help.
	Biomass in Austria: renewable, domestic power systems reviving rural Austrian economies Published 16 Jul 2008 by Gristmill Grist's David Roberts tours biomass installations in rural Austria, looking at the elegance of combined heat and power from locally controlled sources.
	Feeding a BRT with Bicycles: Rio de Janeiro’s T5 Published by Institute for Transportation and Development Policy In planning Rio de Janeiro's bus rapid transit (BRT) system, integration with bicycles is getting significant attention. Planners are not only using bikes as feeders to the system, but are also considering adding separated bike lanes along the route.
	Students promote a thermal energy district in Portland Published 5 Aug 2008 by Daily Journal of Commerce - Oregon A Southeast Portland (Ore.) proposed district heating system could be a proof of concept for retrofitting neighborhoods with more efficient locally generated heat and power systems. It just needs some help from the city to move forward.
	Gas Prices Apply Brakes To Suburban Migration Published 5 Aug 2008 by the Washington Post After decades of migration to ever-further-out suburbs, high gas prices are spurring a rethink of homebuying priorities and policies that subsidize sprawl.

[Back to top]

To stay maximally up-to-date on Post Carbon Cities' doings, point your RSS reader to our feeds -- choose to see news, or blog posts, or everything.

Photo credits:
Mountains in Haines Alaska by Bill Saturno
an urban farm by Tracie Lee
Credits for news thumbnails can be found on page with article.