TCLocal of Tompkins County, NY

http://tclocal.org/

Mission and Purpose of TCLocal

Some time in the next 30 years, life will start to become very different from what it is now. By mid-century we will use much less energy; we will live every aspect of our life much closer to home; and we will be much poorer in material terms, because energy and wealth are basically the same thing in an industrial society.

Energy descent — a radical reduction in our use of energy — is certain, but it’s not clear yet which of several factors will cause it to begin. Perhaps we will decide to do the right thing about climate change and reduce our CO2 emissions 80 or 90 percent, which would require changes almost that large in our actual consumption of energy. And there are other ways we might experience a radical reduction in our use of energy; for example, economic collapse, or an expanded war in the middle east. But the factor that makes energy descent a sure thing and sets the theme for this century is "peak oil" — the leveling off of global oil production and then its eventual and inexorable decline.

The timing of the peak is debatable, with forecasts ranging from 2005 (that is, already here) to 2030. But most credible estimates agree with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which concluded in a recent study that "world oil production is at or near its peak," and with the director of research at OPEC, who said recently that "we are at, or near, the production peak of world oil, if not on the downward slope."

After the peak, the growing gap between falling world oil production and ever-increasing global demand will send prices skyward, with economic results that can only be imagined but will certainly include greatly restricted mobility due to the high cost of fuel and much higher prices for most goods, including food. The result will be less disposable income, a life lived closer to home, and a greater reliance on the goods and services that can be provided locally. Since the supply of oil and other fossil fuels is finite, this outcome is guaranteed. The only question is, Shall we plan for what we can see coming, or just let it happen to us?

A group of area citizens, TCLocal, has begun planning now. TCLocal contributors are committed to researching various aspects of energy descent in Tompkins County and writing up a preliminary plan for each aspect based on purely local challenges and resources. This is one such plan.

Who we are

Contributors to TCLocal are people living in and around Tompkins County, New York, who are committed to helping prepare for a future with less available energy. Specifically, each Contributor commits to researching and writing at least one article on a subject relating to our local response to energy descent. The pieces thus produced are published monthly on the tclocal.org web site in a format that enables members of the community to comment on the article and contribute to its eventual revision. There are also a few Contributors (such as the Editor) who provide services to the effort in lieu of articles.

How to contribute

Articles appearing at tclocal.org are published under the Creative Commons license and are owned and managed by the members of TCLocal as a group. People interested in becoming TCLocal Contributors should first read the Terms of Reference at  http://ibiblio.org/tcrp/process/terms.htm and then contact one of the TCLocal officers below to sign up.

Tom Shelley
Chair, TCLocal
tjs1@cornell.edu

Jon Bosak
Editor, TCLocal
bosak@ibiblio.org

Bethany Schroeder
Secretary, TCLocal
nidus@pinax.com

What to contribute

A list of topics so far identified can be found at  http://www.ibiblio.org/tcrp/process/outline.pdf

The topics listed are considered priorities, but the group will consider proposals to address any subject concerning local responses to energy descent.