This German town finds energy security - and some profit - in self-sufficiency. The town of Freiamt generates its entire electricity needs from locally owned renewable sources, and then sells a 30 per cent surplus to generate revenue. This thriving economy should be a lesson to those seeking security on larger scales.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom recently issued an executive order to city departments to fast-track permitting for small wind projects. "Everybody's doing solar now; it's exciting," Newsom said. "But wind hasn't gotten to that level." A team of technical advisors and a Wind Taskforce will be working to encourage small-scale wind projects.

As oil prices surged this year, manufacturers raised the prices of a lot of products — not just gasoline but lotions, toothpaste, plastics and many more items that use oil as a raw material. But even now that oil prices are dropping, the manufacturers are loath to lower their prices until they recoup what they lost in the runup - and are sure the prices won't go up again.

Alaskan towns like Haines Borough are seeing greatly increased food bills due to high freight costs. These greater expenses compound the impact of already burdensome increased energy costs.

In his work as a land planner in North Carolina, Aaron Newton works to create sustainable places. But it's not just his job: awareness of peak oil has led him to promote relocalization close to home, and led to coauthoring a new book that expands the definition of agricultural land.