As the Task Force developed its recommendations, several guiding principles emerged. These themes apply across the identified strategies and should be consulted as points of reference as the community refines and implements the recommendations.
Change on the scale suggested requires broad participation from all sectors of society. Neither the City of Portland nor any other government can accomplish such change alone. The City can, however, play a catalytic role by informing and mobilizing the community, setting a positive example and convening partners to develop solutions.
A “wait and see” approach to this issue will diminish opportunities Portland now has to reduce its exposure in a meaningful way. The recommended changes will take years to implement and will be easier to afford while the economy is still relatively strong. Uncertainty concerning oil and natural gas supplies, rather than being an excuse for delay, is in fact an argument for urgency. The tightening of energy supplies could well occur quite soon and suddenly. Even if it occurs later, buildings and infrastructure being planned and built today will last for many decades and should be designed for a more constrained energy future.
The recommendations propose major changes for Portland, but the Task Force believes their implementation will have an overall positive social and economic impact. Local residents and businesses will enjoy the health benefits and financial savings of cleaner air and walkable communities. They will also benefit economically as dollars spent on imported fuels are redirected into the local economy. This presents a significant economic development opportunity for Portland businesses and residents.
While the recommendations include devel