WHEREAS, the City of Nevada City, its citizens and businesses depend on oil and natural gas for their economic welfare and essential activities; and,

WHEREAS, a growing body of energy industry experts believe that the world has already arrived at, or will soon arrive at, Peak Oil (that is, the highest rate of global oil production that we will ever see); and,

WHEREAS, there is currently no combination of alternative sources that can provide the amount and type of energy that we get from oil and natural gas; and,

WHEREAS, actions to mitigate the effects of energy decline and scarcity are largely the same as actions to comply with the climate protection mandates found in California's AB-32; and,

WHEREAS, actions that lessen our dependence on fossil fuels can also create and preserve local jobs and the local economy;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

The City Council of Nevada City acknowledges the unprecedented global and local challenges of Peak Oil and related energy scarcity;

The City, in order to preserve tax base and stay economically vibrant and competitive in the face of Peak Oil and related energy uncertainty, will continue to foster and encourage projects that reduce its dependence on oil, natural gas, and other non-local energy sources;

The City Council of Nevada City endorses and encourages the creation of an Energy Solutions Task Force to assess the City's vulnerabilities to diminishing global and local supplies of oil and natural gas, and to recommend local mitigation strategies; the City requests that task force:

• be created, organized, and led by local community groups;
• develop detailed assessments of the economic and societal implications of oil and natural gas depletion for the residents, businesses, and government of Nevada City;
• be comprised of members from local business, local government, local community groups, the community at large, and subject-area experts as needed;
• seek examples from proven domestic and international laws and programs already in effect that have helped produce more vibrant, more economically sustainable, and less energy-dependent communities;
• provide the City with an interim report six months after adoption of this resolution, and a final report after nine months, detailing suggested energy resilience strategies to be reviewed by the City and adopted where appropriate.