Oil Independent Berkeley

Oil Independent Berkeley is a group of activists committed to prompting local government to implement policies and programs that will ensure residents’ access to fresh food, water, health care and transportation when fossil fuels become scarce.

In January, 2008, we formed a citizens' peak oil task force that is working with the official task forces formed in Oakland and San Francisco. The Berkeley Oil Independence Task Force is assessing Berkeley’s vulnerability to food, water and power shortages and price spikes. We will develop a set of recommendations for how the City can prepare for peak oil impacts and work with other municipal and county governments and transit authorities in the Bay Area to improve the regional mass transit system and build an infrastructure for a sustainable, regional economy.

On December 18, 2007, the Berkeley City Council passed a peak oil resolution that recognizes our group and directs the City Manager to work with us to prepare a peak oil mitigation plan. You can view the resolution at www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/citycouncil/2007citycouncil/packet/121807/2007-12-18%20Item%2026%20Support%20of%20%20“Oil%20Independent%20Berkeley”.pdf".

Download a Peak Oil Fact Sheet here.

Download a document on What You Can Do to Raise Peak Oil Awareness here.

For a Californian perspective on peak oil, see the article in the San Francisco Chronicle, written by Oil Independent Berkeley’s founder, at www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/08/26/INF7RM3OC.DTL.

Contact us at oilindependence@yahoo (dot) com

Artwork below by Berkeley artist Doug Minkler www.dougminkler.com.