Resources
This table lists all known sub-federal government actions in the U.S. and Canada made specifically in response to peak oil, whether internal (e.g., staff report, internal vulnerability assessment) or external (e.g., official resolution, task force).
Since oil prices started climbing beyond 15-year highs in 2004, a growing number of municipal and regional agencies have acted to address the threat of peak oil. These actions have included internal vulnerability studies, internal policy assessments, community vulnerability task forces, and related resolutions and ordinances.
Help us keep this list current and accurate! Please send any updates or new information to Post Carbon Cities Program Manager Daniel Lerch. (See below for notes on citizen group efforts, as well as efforts outside the U.S. and Canada.)
Local Government Responses to Peak Oil, U.S. and Canada
(updated 8 May 2008)
| View Larger Map | Key | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Smaller markers mean that action is underway within the government body, but nothing has been officially endorsed yet. | ![]() |
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| Town or city | County or region | State or province | |
States/Provinces
Connecticut (US: pop. 3,405,565)
- On May 7 2008, the state legislature passed HB 5724, which creates a create an energy scarcity and sustainability task force, to require the Office of Policy and Management to assess all state agencies with regard to petroleum use and to establish a grant program for municipalities to plan for energy scarcity and cost increases.
» Nov 2007 report on peak oil by the Peak Oil and Natural Gas Caucus.
Minnesota (US: pop. 5,167,101)
- On 30 April 2008, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed a resolution urging the Governor of Minnesota to "prepare a plan of response and preparation to meet the challenges of Peak Oil." The resolution was introduced and championed by State Representative Bill Hilty.
Regions
Southern California Assoc. of Governments (SCAG) (California, US: pop. 17,797,500)
- Hosted Southern California Energy Conference 10 March 2006 on the global peaking of oil and natural gas production, mitigation measures and alternatives.
- Include energy issues in their 2008 Regional Comprehensive Plan, currently in draft form.
Metro regional government, Portland (Oregon, US: pop. 1,374,500)
- Released policy white paper 18 April 2006, identifying "future oil supply uncertainty" as a timely risk management issue, and establishing a basis for Metro to consider possible policy and program responses.
- http://www.metro-region.org/article.cfm?ArticleID=18951
Cities/towns
| Jurisdiction (2004 pop.) | State/ Province | Country | Actions |
| San Francisco 744,230 |
California | USA | First US city to pass a peak oil resolution, 11 April 2006. Authorized a peak oil task force on 3 May 2007; task force work is ongoing. » [More Information] |
| Austin 690,300 |
Texas | USA | Passed resolution 7 June 2007 directing the City Manager to create an Energy Depletion Risks Task Force. Task force started meeting on 4 September 2007 and is ongoing. » [More Information] |
| Denver 556,900 |
Colorado | USA | Mayor hosted World Oil Forum in November 2005. City conducted limited internal assessment of material dependencies on oil. Energy source and consumption issues now addressed in "Greenprint Denver" city sustainability initiative. » http://www.greenprintdenver.org |
| Portland 534,000 |
Oregon | USA | Created Peak Oil task force in May 2006; accepted task force recommendations in March 2007. » [More information] |
| Hamilton 519,700 |
Ontario | Canada | Commissioned report to consider how future energy constraints might affect the City's long-range planning strategy. » http://postcarboncities.net/node/267 |
| Oakland 397,100 |
California | USA | Passed resolution 17 October 2006 creating a Task Force "to develop an action plan for Oakland to become oil independent by 2020." The group presented their final draft report to the Public Works Committee on 26 February 2008 and presented its report and policy recommendations to the Planning Commission on 19 March 2008. » http://postcarboncities.net/node/179 » http://www.oaklandnet.com/oil |
| Spokane 199,400 |
Washington | USA | Spokane became the first U.S. city to address climate change and energy uncertainty together when it launched a sustainability strategic planning effort on 6 February 2008. A Task Force was selected in March, and will begin meeting in April. » U.S. city first to fight climate change and peak oil together |
| Burnaby 197,300 |
British Columbia | Canada | Released staff report 4 January 2006, concluding that "all levels of government and the corporate sector should begin preparations well before the peak [of global oil production]." » http://postcarboncities.net/node/164 |
| Berkeley 101,500 |
California | USA | City Council passed a resolution on 18 December 2007, recognizing the work of citizen group Oil Independent Berkeley and requiring the City Manager to consider issues of energy uncertainty in future operations and planning. » Resolution recognizing Peak Oil |
| Bloomington 69,300 |
Indiana | USA | Passed resolution 20 July 2006 acknowledging the challenge of peak oil, supporting adoption of a global depletion protocol, and urging federal and state action on peak oil and its consequences. In December 2007, the Council passed a resolution to create a city Peak Oil Task Force. » Acknowledgement Resolution » Task Force Resolution |
| Bellingham 67,171 |
Washington | USA | The Bellingham City Council is discussing creating a Peak Oil Task force. |
| Chapel Hill 52,440 |
North Carolina | USA | Working with group NCPowerdown on a Peak Oil or related resolution. » Notes from a 2003 town council workshop on energy and sustainability |
| Westerly 23,400 |
Rhode Island | USA | Passed resolution forming a peak oil task force on 17 March 2008. |
| Carrboro 16,782 |
North Carolina | USA | Group NCPowerdown is working with the town's Environmental Planner and are meeting with the Environmental Advisory Board. |
| Brattleboro 8,300 |
Vermont | USA | Passed resolution 21 May 2007 forming a regional Peak Oil Task Force. On 6 May 2008, the Selectboard dissolved the Task Force. » Citizen group presentation on peak oil task force to Brattleboro Selectboard » Brattleboro Region Initial Peak Oil Report |
| Sebastopol 7,700 |
California | USA | Town Hall meeting in Fall 2005, resulting in an ad hoc "Energy Vulnerability" Citizen's Committee to develop Contingency Plans for municipal services. Committee released final recommendations 3 April 2007. » http://postcarboncities.net/node/134 |
| Willits 5,100 |
California | USA | Declaration supporting "sustainable localization"; worked with local citizen group to develop initiative for purchasing solar power for City buildings and water treatment facilities. » Conducting Community Inventories » Willits Area Energy Inventory » Recommendations towards Energy Independence for the City of Willits and Surrounding Community » Two Energy Projects to Start the City of Willits Towards Energy Independence |
| Franklin Town 2,550 |
New York | USA | Passed resolution 6 December 2005 creating a Citizens' Commission to examine the issues raised by declining energy supplies and rising energy costs. |
| Haines Borough 2,241 |
Alaska | USA | Created the Haines Energy Task Force in March 2007; the task force released a final draft report for public review in February 2008. |
Originally excerpted from Lerch, D. (2007) Post Carbon Cities: Planning for Energy and Supply Uncertainty. Sebastopol, Calif.: Post Carbon Press.
- data on jurisdictions in the U.K., Europe and Australia forthcoming in 2008
- data on jurisdictions in the process of preparing peak oil responses forthcoming in 2008
- many citizen groups are actively working to encourage action on peak oil by their own local governments; lists of these groups available at http://www.relocalize.net/groups and http://oilawareness.meetup.com/.






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