Like many places, Portland, Ore. is seeing a lot of snow -- snow it's largely unprepared for. But despite the county's declared state of emergency, those in walkable neighborhoods are actually doing pretty well. Unusual conditions lend a special, festive air to everything, encouraging acts of play and goodwill. Post Carbon Cities will be on break through January 4. We wish you and your community resilience and joy in the New Year.

Though it's been around for longer, the Transition Towns initiative really blossomed as an international movement this year with the release of the Transition Handbook. In its home country, the United Kingdom, Transition activities led to several peak oil related resolutions (as well as a host of non-governmental community developments, like the creation of local currency). This year, the idea leapt the pond, taking root in the United States with the formation of Transition United States.

A non-profit serving low income people in coastal Washington has received grants and the necessary permits to build a wind farm, and will be selling the energy to the local public utility district. The income will help fund the organization's social service mission. According to the organization's executive director, "this project is the first of its kind in the nation to use alternative energy to benefit low income housing."

More and more community leaders and citizens are re-thinking how local systems operate and realizing the environmental, financial and community health benefits of creating a more sustainable future for their citizens. Graduate students from Columbia University designed this handbook, released by the U.S. EPA, to help your city go green.

Fazilka, a small township in Punjab near the India-Pakistan border, has become the first ever place in the country to implement a "Car Free City" in the region, declaring the central city a car-free zone.

Chemical emergency. Dam Failure. Earthquake. Fire. Flood. Hazardous Material emergency. Heat emergency. Hurricane. Landslide. Nuclear emergency. Terrorism. Thunderstorm. Tornado. Tsunami. Volcano. Wildfire. Winter Storm. A scary list, but it's too late for Halloween, so what is it?

Many of us are familiar with residential solar energy systems and utility green power programs. But as community members look for a collective approach to solar energy, what can be done? This seminar will examine community approaches for increasing accessibility, economies of scale, and benefits of solar energy use. Special attention will be paid to financing models and approaches to meeting unique community needs. Find out how to help those in your community overcome many of the barriers that have prevented them from investing in solar energy on their own homes and businesses. Community organizers, government officials, utilities, and solar energy advocates are all encouraged to attend.

A research paper produced for the Municipal Association of Victoria, Australia explores the energy uncertainty adaptation strategy of relocalization through case studies. The report also touches on ways in which local governments can encourage these efforts.

A movement that started in the U.K. spreads to U.S. shores as communities pull together to create resilience. A community approach to peak oil preparation can take many different forms, depending on the community and the people who become involved.

This paper is part of an ongoing process to develop an Oil Vulnerability Mitigation Strategy and Action Plan for Queensland, anticipated to be finalized by mid next year. The paper is an information document that is not government policy. This paper is the first step in developing policy options for inclusion in the Oil Vulnerability Mitigation Strategy and Action Plan.