Laurel Hoyt: Congratulations to you and the rest of the task force on completing your report so quickly! Can you tell us anything about the makeup of the task force or your process that made it work so well? What was the role of the "advisors"?

Patricia Hval: I tried to recruit community leaders and people with particular kinds of knowledge for the task force. These included a banker, who is also president of the local land trust; the head of buildings and maintenance for the school department, who has performed energy audits for the schools; the president of the largest human services non-profit in town (food pantry, heating assistance, thrift store, etc.); the owner of a local heating oil company; a town planning consultant who uses peak oil as an integral part of any planning project. These people formed the core of the task force. The planning consultant and I served as co-chairs. People who could not commit to the time involved in the process, but who were interested in the work of the task force, contributed specific kinds of information and expertise and were called "advisors".

Westerly is a small town (just under 25,000 pop.) and I think that made the work of the task force easier in some ways. There is a strong sense of community here and people are willing to pull together to work on large projects. Also, the members of the task force know the town well and are, in turn, well-known in the community.

When I invited people to serve on the task force, I promised them that this would be a 6-month project. We met every 2 weeks in order to make this happen. There was a sense of urgency - we didn't want the Town Council's interest to wane during a long process. Also, we understood that we had to get a plan in place for residents who might not be able to afford to heat their houses this winter.

LH: Your report was well-received by the council, and the task force was asked to keep working on these issues. How will the job of the task force change now?

PH: The Town Council's response to the report/plan was far more positive than any of us had expected it would be. Frankly, I think the Council members were astonished at its complexity and thoroughness. Needless to say, we on the task force were extremely pleased!

The Town Council has asked the task force to stay in place and to guide the Council with next steps. Some members of the task force are holding me to my word of 6 months and are leaving the task force. I explained this to the Council and told them that I would need to re-constitute the task force membership. I am in that process now. The job of the task force will become one of shepherding the plan through the Council while prioritizing steps and implementing an on-going energy awareness campaign.

We are not, however, standing still. Next week, I will advise the Council to take some beginning first steps - including getting an energy audit for all town buildings. Also, I will contact the local Clergy Asso. and the town's emergency planning officer regarding a plan to increase heating assistance funds and to provide a place for residents to sleep if they cannot heat their homes. In addition, the local newspaper has agreed to publish a regular column that I will write regarding some aspect of peak oil.

LH: I understand that tourism is one of Westerly's main industries - I recall visiting Misquamicut beach as a child. In your report, there was but one mention of tourism, relating to potential lost livelihood among seasonal workers. Has there been much investigation into the percentage of residents who will be affected if tourism takes a downturn, and how the economy might develop?

The health of tourism is certainly a concern in this seacoast town. While precise numbers are not available, perhaps 5-8% of adults work in the accommodation/food services field. There has been a reluctance in town to face the possibility of declining income from the tourist trade - even tho the past 3 years have seen a downturn. The task force felt that all of the points made in its report and all of the subsequent recommendations addressed this problem without belaboring a sensitive issue.

Have you seen any developments in nearby towns inspired by Westerly's example?

PH: I don't know how much word of our activities has spread. Certainly, Post Carbon RI has followed our progress and there have been a few people from MA interested in what we are doing. I think most Americans are still in deep denial vis-à-vis our energy future. A great deal of education had to take place before the Town Council agreed to form the Peak Oil Task Force. More education had to take place as people were invited to serve on the Task Force. And so on...

LH: Any advice for citizen groups in similar towns who might want to follow in your footsteps?

PH: Advice? While I understand that every community is different, I'd suggest laying a good foundation. Bring the local governing body on board first - that way they are already invested in the process. Keep the Task Force small. Try to get peak-oil-aware people who know the community well and who represent varying groups within the community. Set a deadline for the process - we all know how easy it is to get wrapped up in "planning to plan". Also, I would be happy to answer specific questions, should any readers have any. Most of all - have fun!! This is an exciting, new thing to be involved with!