Washington County Peak Oil - April meeting

The leveling and relatively imminent decline in the world’s fossil fuel production lags somewhat behind global warming in the process of societal awakening. Portland’s Peak Oil Task Force did some fine work in highlighting the issues we’ll all face as energy supplies become tighter and much more expensive. Their report contained a number of useful recommendations and preparatory work for the City’s consideration.

So how are we doing? Can a relative handful of people make a big enough difference, or do we need to educate a lot more people? Do we need to re-think any of this work? Are there other related threats to our community’s well-being that weren’t considered? As we face peak fossil fuels, climate change and a major financial meltdown, which one will get us first, and what does that mean for the others? What do we do?



Our guest speaker, Charlie Stephens, will update attendees on the latest information on our fossil fuel situation, its relationship to the country’s serious petrodollar problem, the response of the country’s decision-makers, and what we need to do locally to transition to a truly sustainable society. The emphasis will be on things we can pursue locally in the near term.

A former Senior Policy Analyst with the Oregon Department of Energy, Mr. Stephens created Oregon’s Sustainable Building Tax Credit Program and is a leading expert on sustainable community development, energy efficiency strategies and new technologies. He was quite active with Portland's Peak Oil Task Force in 2006 and 2007. He recently completed 17 years of service at the Oregon Department of Energy focusing on residential energy efficiency and renewable energy applications, new technology development, sustainable building and community development, and energy policy for the State of Oregon.

Please join us!

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Meeting Location: Unitarian Universalist Community Church, in Hillsboro: Near the Orenco MAX station (address below).

Doors open at 6:30 pm and the program will begin promptly at 7 pm.

LIGHT RAIL: Orenco Station/NW 231st Ave. Then walk east on Alder St. until it turns right at 228th. Then one block south to Birch street and the church is on your left.

TRI-MET BUS: Route 47.

CAR: From HW26, take Cornelius Pass exit south to Cornell. Turn west on Cornell and turn left on 231st. Proceed south on 231st to Alder. Turn left on Alder. The church is located on the corner at Birch and 228th. NOTE: IF YOU ARE DRIVING WEST ON CORNELL, THE INTERSECTION WILL SHOW 229TH FOR TURNING RIGHT, WHICH YOU MIGHT SEE FIRST, BUT, SAME INTERSECTION, IT IS 231st FOR TURNING LEFT!! SO TURN LEFT THERE!!