Southeastern Regional Planning & Economic Development District

REPORT OF THE FUTURES TASK FORCE

SRPEDD MEMBERS Susan Peterson, Rochester, Chair Joe Callahan, Berkley Leonard Flynn, Mansfield Jonathan Henry, Marion George Hovorka, Fall River Randall Kunz, Rochester Chris McGowan, Mansfield Lorri-Ann Miller, Dartmouth Marty Newfield, Raynham Steven Ouellette, Westport Bob Rogers, Mattapoisett OTHER MEMBERS Robert Amey, Bridgewater State College Carol Bragg, Seekonk Board of Selectmen Jim Butler, The Weekly Compass Lisa Gavigan, Wheaton College Francis Gay, GATRA Maria Gooch-Smith, SEED Corp. Susan Jennings, UMass Dartmouth Robb Johnson, The Nature Conservancy Sarah Kelley, SEMAP Kate Kilguss, Attorney, Rehoboth Peter Kortright, Fall River Area Chamber of Commerce Richard Mello, Adecco, Dartmouth Michael Milanoski, Attleboro Redevelopment Authority Jerry Murphy, Wheaton College Nancy Lee Wood, PhD., Bristol Community College SRPEDD STAFF Steve Smith Louise Daley

December, 2007 SRPEDD is indebted to the Island Foundation for their generous support and encouragement on this project.
SRPEDD, 88 Broadway, Taunton, MA 02780 (508) 824-1367; [email protected]

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction: Facing the Future.3 Southeastern Massachusetts in 2060.4 The Regional Blueprint.6 Choices for the future: Economy......6 Land Use..7 Agriculture...8 Energy..9 Transportation.10 Environment11 Education....12 Housing, Construction and Infrastructure..14 Governance.15 Conclusions...16 SRPEDD Role.16 APPENDIX 1: Individual Behavior Choices17 APPENDIX 2: Websites for Sustainable Communities20 APPENDIX 3: Websites for Fossil Fuel Depletion.21

Report of the SRPEDD Futures Task Force

Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District

REPORT OF THE FUTURES TASK FORCE

INTRODUCTION: FACING THE FUTURE
Southeastern Massachusetts communities govern themselves as if it were 1950 rather than nearly a decade into the 21st century. Our citizens and elected officials have not yet come to grips with the changes in and challenges to our way of life. Our land development patterns have reduced productive farm land and increased dependence on the automobile; our demographics have shifted not only in age distribution but also in household composition; dependence on fossil fuel has never been higher; our economy has shifted from manufacturing to service; and water is less abundant and more likely to be polluted. These facts not only guarantee that our future will not look like our past, but may alter the process by which we make public policy decisions. Many of the issues we face are global, yet there remains a compelling need to address them locally and regionally. For example, worldwide climate change and the eventual but inevitable exhaustion of our fossil fuel supply must be addressed globally, but the ramifications of the global response will be felt acutely in southeastern Massachusetts. This report suggests actions we might take to position this region to be competitive and sustainable over the next 50 to 100 years. The Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District has a major role to play to achieve this outcome. This report is the baseline for regional adaptive planning and the living document by which we can gauge progress toward sustainability.
Southeastern Massachusetts from space

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SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS IN 2060

Southeastern Massachusetts is a model for our state and our nation in sustainable practices. Our economy is balanced, with integrated business clusters developed around the regions historic centers and natural assets. The economy is diverse, with many small businesses locally owned and managed. Business clusters indigenous to the region include fine metalwork, value added agriculture, aquaculture, fishing, marine science and technology, waste recycling and reuse. The regions transportation network has been transformed to provide many affordable alternatives to the car. There is an interconnected transit network in the region that extends to the metropolitan areas -Boston, Providence and beyond. Transit runs on clean energy and uses intelligent transportation systems (ITS). Stops are surrounded with businesses, housing and retail development. The region has great pedestrian and bicycle networks. The seaports of Fall River and New Bedford are flourishing from increased use of waterways for freight using clean, quiet technology.

AMTRAK Acela Train

Infill development has revitalized the regions cities. Federal, state and local tax incentives have resulted in the redevelopment and retrofitting of older structures, while the pace of greenfield development has dropped significantly. Structures routinely use wind, solar, geothermal and hydropower. Smart growth policies have resulted in the production of more affordable housing. Agriculture has driven the regions economic resurgence. State policies have been expanded to meet the needs of a new generation of producers. Abandoned farmland has been returned to productive use as the economics of locally grown produce has made agriculture in the region more competitive. The region has become an exporter of produce and value added agricultural products while employing sustainable practices on the land. New Bedford has maintained its number one national ranking in the fishing industry using sustainable management practices that have kept the fish stocks at harvestable levels. The fish processing plants have installed aquaculture production. Preservation and expansion of working waterfronts paid dividends when the demand for waterfront use for fishing and transport increased. Our educational system is thriving. Students have a solid foundation in reading comprehension, the ability to express themselves, and critical and creative thinking in

Report of the SRPEDD Futures Task Force

math, science, history, geography, literature and the arts. A focus on sustainability is included at all levels of education. While higher education is valued, universities and colleges are also centers of lifelong learning and engines for economic development, working with the community to determine regional business needs and providing workforce training. Our communities support education, training and research and nurture small startup and expanding sustainable businesses. The regions work force is educated, trained and adaptable to the changing needs of the 21st century. Our environment is cleaner and healthier. The threat of global warming and sea level rise is abating as our dependence on fossil fuels is replaced with more sustainable alternatives. Strong actions and heightened awareness have resulted in a reversal in the loss of both inland and wetland species habitat. Recycling and reuse of waste products are practiced universally as sustainability is found to be the pragmatic choice. Clotheslines and small lawns are common.

Wildflowers as a sustainable alternative to lawns

Property tax reform has reduced the dependence of our cities and towns on regressive property taxes, resulting in less pressure for each community to develop land for industrial tax revenue. This has reduced competition among cities and towns for commercial development and lead to a more cooperative climate for regional development. Schools are funded by the Commonwealth rather than town by town. Governance has evolved from a system of competing local entities into a more inclusive model of regional cooperation. The long-term decline in participation at all levels of government has been reversed as citizens feel empowered. A true community ethic exists in Southeastern Massachusetts in both the physical and personal senses. Our revitalized cities and newer development patterns have fostered vibrant neighborhoods that have gotten residents out of their cars and homes to participate in community education and neighborhood functions.

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THE REGIONAL BLUEPRINT

Its tough to make predictions, especially about the future. Yogi Berra Given the rapidly evolving nature of our world and our region, the status quo choice is not acceptable. We cannot continue making decisions in the 21st century with a 20th century mindset. We must make some bold changes to meet the challenges before us. We must choose to keep Southeastern Massachusetts competitive as a region. We must put ourselves on a path toward sustainability. Below are some realistic choices that we as a region can make to prepare for the future. These choices are grouped areas as follows: Economy Transportation Housing, Land Use Environment Construction & Agriculture Education Infrastructure Energy Governance While we comprehend the enormity of the challenges and know our limitations to effect change, it is important to begin this regional conversation and to advocate for change.

CHOICES FOR THE FUTURE: ECONOMY

Southeastern Massachusetts has seen a radical shift in its economic profile, and the trends are not pointed in a healthy direction. The once dominant value-added manufacturing sector is in steep decline and has fallen from its place as the regions leading employment sector into third place. In the last twenty years, manufacturing jobs have been lost at an average rate of more than 1,000 jobs every year. These manufacturing jobs have been replaced with jobs in the retail trade and service sectors. This switch has not benefited the regional economy. Whereas most of the regions manufacturing capacity was owned and managed locally, the retail trade sector is mostly populated by nationally or internationally-owned chain stores. The manufacturing jobs also tend to pay higher wages and provide better benefit packages for their employees than the retail and service sector jobs that are replacing them. Our economic choices have been largely dictated to us globalism and international trade policy have led to the Mill conversions to retail use hemorrhage of manufacturing jobs to overseas locations at both the national and regional level. Massachusetts ranked 49th in overall job creation among the 50 states in 2007. Some actions include: Report of the SRPEDD Futures Task Force 6

Refocus our economic development recruitment efforts away from relocation of business from outside the region to promoting and nurturing start up businesses from within the region. Create opportunities for microfinance (loans below $35,000) to encourage start up of small indigenous businesses. (SEED Corp. currently operates a microfinance program). Revise models of economic performance to capture the environmental contributions to the economy (e.g. wetlands preservation and reclamation as a flood prevention measure). (See also Environment) Work to relocalize our economy by developing local networks for goods and services, such as buy local campaigns. Consider waste as a resource and provide incentives for businesses to enter the waste recovery business. Invest in renewable energy businesses and in job training for a renewable energy workforce. Recruit workers who are well-trained, fairly paid and, if foreign born, have legal status to work in the U.S. Identify and encourage job development with wages adequate to support a family. Invest in green technology for a more sustainable economy future.

CHOICES FOR THE FUTURE: LAND USE

We have been developing land in an unsustainable manner at a pace far more rapid than our population growth. The result has been sprawl an inefficient and inequitable pattern of growth. The causes include government policy (Interstate highway system, local zoning and the local property tax system), private sector actions (larger houses and shopping areas) and citizen choices (larger house lots and the single occupancy automobile).

Conventional vs. Cluster Subdivision (Pictometry)

The results of sprawl have been extremely detrimental to the region. Sprawl has resulted in the loss of half of our open space and agricultural land in fifty years. Sprawl has sapped the vitality of most of our downtowns. Sprawl has accelerated the trend of wealthy suburbs growing at the expense of poor cities. Sprawl has more than doubled the time of our commutes. Sprawl has made more energy efficient transit options less feasible to operate. Sprawl has narrowed housing choice and driven up the cost of housing. Some actions include: Report of the SRPEDD Futures Task Force 7

Adopt land use development techniques that concentrate development and preserve open space, such as cluster zoning, transfer of development rights, and transit oriented development. Create incentives for mixed use development around transit nodes (train and bus stations) to encourage households to own fewer vehicles. (The current 40R program is a prototype). Create a regional system to enable the transfer of development rights across municipal boundaries to focus development in areas with infrastructure while preserving green space and farmland. Revise Chapter 40B (Comprehensive Permit Law for Affordable Housing) to encourage open space subdivisions; restrict such development from locations that do not meet smart growth objectives. Expand housing choices allow within zoning bylaws to produce more affordable housing such as modifying large single family homes into multifamily. Increase incentives for redevelopment of vacant property in need of rehabilitation. Use the concept of carrying capacity to project future land use needs for water and agricultural land. Require developers to provide pedestrian and bicycle connections and amenities with all development. Revamp all land use regulations, including zoning, to simplify and make them more accessible, with a clear purpose that supports sustainable development objectives. Change the orientation of regulations from accommodating automobiles to making livable places for people.

CHOICES FOR THE FUTURE: AGRICULTURE

Public policy at the state and local level in the latter 20th century treated agriculture as an undesirable activity that represented the past, not the future. At the local level, we have frequently assessed farmland as house lots, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy and forcing farmers to sell for that purpose. As a result, we have lost over half of our agricultural land to development in the past fifty years. The farsighted Massachusetts Agricultural Preservation Restriction Program, which purchases development rights from farmers, has prevented even greater losses of our agricultural land, and it has helped to galvanize public and private support Valuable farmland is being lost to development through land trusts, local Community Preservation Acts, and other channels.

Report of the SRPEDD Futures Task Force

These efforts and pools must be sustained, but more importantly, local farms need support to develop more profitable business that can be sustained by the next generation of local producers. On the national level, our policies have encouraged highly subsidized specialized factory farms hundreds and thousands of miles from New England. These policies have made us very vulnerable to spiraling transport costs and have undercut the economic viability of local farms. While federal policy is in need of reform, there are many choices that can be made locally and regionally that will help agriculture in Southeastern Massachusetts and reduce our vulnerability to national and international trends and policies. Some actions include: Make loans & grants available to farms to encourage farm expansion and the development of value-added agriculture and direct marketing to maximize farm profitability. The Farm Viability Enhancement Program is one model. Promote the development of community farms on open urban lots; protect these lots and other urban land for future community farms. Continue and expand the Massachusetts Agricultural Preservation Restriction Program, which purchases development rights of farms. Encourage farmers markets and local farm stands (recent legislative changes remove zoning impediments to farm stands). Expand workforce training programs to train farmers and promote careers in farming. Encourage cooperative neighborhood programs that facilitate local agriculture such as neighborhood composting and neighborhood tool sheds. Encourage colleges, schools, hospitals and other regional institutions to give procurement preference for local produce. Promote cluster development to save farmland (see land use actions).

CHOICES FOR THE FUTURE: ENERGY

The twentieth century lifestyle was built upon the availability of cheap fossil fuels to heat our houses, power our automobiles and drive our economy. The price per barrel of oil remained fairly low and constant following World War II up to the mid 1970s, when world events drove prices to record high levels. They have been volatile ever since. When faced with the reality that maximum oil production levels have been reached, the time for energy alternatives is hard upon us. Coal does not offer a reasonable long-term alternative because of its role in accelerating global warming. Nuclear power may be in our future, but will require a restoration of public confidence and safe methods for storage of spent fuel.

Wind power is in our future

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We must prepare for a transition from an energy intensive lifestyle to a one that maximizes conservation and alternative energy sources. Some actions include: Prepare a comprehensive regional energy analysis and a clean energy plan Require LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certification on all new construction. Provide financial incentives to promote investment in renewable energy. Review and revise local regulations with a goal to promote the development of decentralized renewable energy generation facilities (e.g. home based windmills). Explore carbon trading by utilities as long as this mechanism is not used to evade minimum health requirements (e.g. allow Brayton Point Power plant to purchase open space as alternative to meeting the final 5% of emissions requirements). Inform citizens about peak oil and foster community based solutions. Encourage employer incentives for their employees who telecommute or commute by means of public transit, bicycles and walking. Encourage the use of bio fuels made from waste products.

CHOICES FOR THE FUTURE: TRANSPORTATION

Our transportation system is designed to move both people and goods around and across the region. In Southeastern Massachusetts, the primary people mover is the automobile. In fact, for the last 50 years, most of our transportation and land use planning has been designed to make life better for the automobile, not for people. As a result, pedestrian and bicycle facilities are lacking and we have spent minimal attention on making improvements in freight transport. We are held hostage in our cars because we have no practical alternatives to dealing with congested roads, and our highways are filled with trucks. Local and regional bus service is limited and declining. Passenger rail is not available in parts of the region and it is Boston-centric. We have no light rail or trams. Some individuals would make different choices about where to work and where to live if they had viable transportation choices. Most households have a car for each licensed driver. The number of registered vehicles in the SRPEDD region increased by 43% in 10 years - from 400,213 in 1995 to 571,813 in 2005. Children and adults no longer walk because there are few destinations within walking distance of their suburban neighborhood, where zoning has prohibited any and all non-residential uses for the benefit of the residents. The health consequences of our automobile culture are well documented.

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With aging infrastructure and severely limited funding, we have important choices to make about where to spend our resources. We need to evaluate whether the automobile is sustainable in light of rising fossil fuel prices and declining supplies. We need to consider what our region will be like if we continue on our current planning path. Some actions include: Change the transportation planning process: Give choices and consequences in addition to models and predictions. Consider decisions on plans and projects based on the larger goal of sustainability. Make decisions based on whats best for peoplenot whats best for cars. Produce a coordinated Transportation and Land Use Planning document with a vision for the future landscape of Southeastern Massachusetts. Reduce requirements for the number and size of parking spaces for commercial and multi-family development as part of trip demand management and encourage service to these developments by transit Restore and expand existing bus and rail passenger transit to make it a viable choice, with reasonable minimum frequencies and hours of service. Incorporate a safe network of paths and trails for bicycles, pedestrians, and scooters into road and/or rail rights-of-way (ROWs). Make zip bikes (also known as freedom bikes in Paris or yellow bikes in Portland, OR) available at a minimal cost. Encourage this as an entrepreneurial business. Preserve all rail ROWs lines and segments, including secondary lines to allow for short local rail (or bus on rail ROW) trips across the region. Restore historic trolley systems. Promote alternative fuels to power vehicles. Look for other areas where capacity may exist for alternative modes for passenger and freight transport, i.e. highway medians, roadway ROWs, utility lines, inland rivers and their former ports. Plan for a long-term future that includes reduced volume on roadways, because todays roads may be tomorrows transit ROWs. Encourage short-sea shipping in port cities. My father rode a camel. I drive a car. My son flies a jet-plane. His son will ride a camel. Saudi saying

CHOICES FOR THE FUTURE: ENVIRONMENT

The environment was discovered as an issue in the 1960s and 70s. The concerns at that time were local and regional in scale: air and water pollution, toxic contamination. As our knowledge broadened, so did the concerns. Loss of endangered species habitat, loss of productive farmland and burgeoning sprawl became second generation environmental concerns. For the 21st century, we are now rightfully consumed with fears of global warming and the domino effect of related impacts. The global nature of this problem does not relieve us of the obligation to act responsibly at the local and regional levels. Our choices need to recognize that sustainable environmental choices are sustainable economic choices as well. Report of the SRPEDD Futures Task Force 11

An economy built upon lowest cost at the expense of our environment will eventually collapse. Some actions include: Reduce, reuse and recycle o Encourage the development of businesses that reuse and convert waste products. o Expand recycling programs. Revise models of economic performance to capture the environmental contributions to the economy (e.g. wetlands preservation and reclamation as a flood prevention measure). (See also Economy) Expand our investment in green infrastructure (e.g. save open space to preserve and treat our water supply naturally). Replace harmful pesticides and herbicides with environmentally responsible alternatives. Recognize the importance of water in our future: o Promote water conservation measures o Regulate the amount of new development based (in part) on the availability of water resources o Encourage groundwater recharge and replenishment as an alternative to surface discharge by reducing the size of impervious areas and encouraging alternatives such as porous pavement. o Encourage reuse and recycling of water by promoting alternative technologies such as low flow or waterless toilets. Work to preserve diverse species through the protection and enhancement of natural habitats. Ensure that resources are distributed equitably.

CHOICES FOR THE FUTURE: EDUCATION

We have replaced neighborhood schools with large, centralized school facilities to achieve efficiencies of scale and offer more choices in school programs. This has contributed to sprawl, increased traffic congestion and caused children and parents to spend more time traveling. According to the National Personal Transportation Survey and National Household Travel Survey, the use of automobiles for transportation to and from school increased from 16% in 1969 to 46% in 2001. The EPA estimated in their 2003 Report, Travel and Environmental Implications of School Siting, that the number of cars on the road between 7:15 and 8:15 a.m. increases 30% during the school year. This trend has been codified in the funding requirements for schools that dictate minimum acreages, which are typically only available in greenfields on the outskirts of communities.

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Drop out rates remain high in our cities, and they have increased in recent years. Academic achievement is not valued equally across the ethnic groups in our communities. Mentoring programs, such as the SMILES program, provide one-on-one assistance to students. Local colleges administer a number of community support educational programs to assist high school students with their academic skills. Our region suffers a mismatch between workforce skills and knowledge and the type of jobs expected to grow in the region. Colleges and universities, as well as adult education and workforce retraining programs need to provide learning opportunities that match the regions workforce to its growing industries. Some actions include: School facilities must be models of sustainability for society. The buildings themselves must become teachers. Renovate existing buildings as neighborhood schools. Continue and increase mentoring and apprenticeship programs. Address urban/suburban discrepancies. Reform the way education is funded. Support lifelong universal education that starts earlier and continues for learners of all ages. Incorporate sustainability objectives into subjects, such as the natural step framework. Schools at all levels should emphasize community service, being useful, and doing good work. Grow students into active participants in the community. Reinstate Civics as a subject in school. Train teachers to be UMass Dartmouth flexible, adaptive and creative in making the connection between what is being taught and how it is applied in the real world. Students will learn by hands on experience. Institute more learning outside the classroom. Aggressively increase opportunities for application of knowledge in internships, coops and other partnerships with the business community. Incorporate cross-generational learning. Recruit elders to share their knowledge in schools. Allow younger students to share their knowledge of technology with elders. Teach needed skills for the future, including skills for agriculture, retrofitting old buildings, entrepreneurship, marine industries, transit, new types of land use planning and development design, manufacturing and the technology to reuse waste products.

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CHOICES FOR THE FUTURE: HOUSING, CONSTRUCTION AND INFRASTRUCTURE

We have been developing housing, buildings and infrastructure in an unsustainable manner. The average square footage for a new home in the northeast in 1973 was 1595 square feet. By 2006, the average size had grown to 2612 square feet, or an increase of 64%. In this same period of time, the average household size dropped from 3.11 persons/household to 2.59 (a decrease of nearly 17%). The larger footprint of new houses requires more energy, more construction materials and more land. Since 1970, the cost of heating oil has increased by a factor of approximately eight times, and the cost of natural gas has risen almost as much. There are no new power generation plants designed or permitted in the region, making us extremely vulnerable to continued supply/demand pressures and price hikes. While construction methods and materials have become more energy efficient in recent years, we have room for improvement. It is essential that we move to more sustainable practices in the development and construction of new houses and buildings. Some actions include: Apply LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) principles to all new construction. Provide government incentives to encourage retrofitting older buildings to be more energy efficient. Adopt a statewide rehab code that facilitates the rehabilitation and reuse of existing structures. Promote the development of more choices in new housing as an alternative to the standard Green Roof on Chicago City Hall single-family subdivision home such as incentives (e.g. lot size reduction) for development of attached housing and building smaller, more energy-efficient housing in higher density configurations. Revise local ordinances to encourage Low Impact Development practices such as porous pavement, reduction of lawn size, use of native/natural vegetation, gray water management and other measures designed to conserve water. Revise local ordinances to provide modest tax incentives to encourage green building by residents and developers. Reduce or eliminate installation of infrastructure (water, sewer, paved roads, gas lines, etc.) in rural areas; encourage building where excess infrastructure capacity already exists. Learn from, collaborate with, and incorporate the best construction practices being adopted by others in the region. Report of the SRPEDD Futures Task Force 14

Develop prototype EE homes that will serve to establish and test/monitor the higher energy/water conservation standards.

CHOICES FOR THE FUTURE: GOVERNANCE

Participation in government as measured by voting in elections and attendance at town meetings has been on the decline for decades. The future of the 27 towns and cities in SRPEDD are largely dependent upon local and regional public policy decisions that should be informed by increased participation of citizens in their local government and cooperation among those units of government. Local government is more expensive and more complex than in the 1970s; most communities now have multi-million dollar budgets and full time staff to carry out the work determined by volunteer boards. There is a disparity among communities in property types and values, tax rates, fees, and services both number and quality. Municipal employees have widely varying qualifications and work requirements, salary ranges, health insurance, retirement benefits, and working conditions. Communities compete for tax revenues and collaborate on schools, public safety, water, sewer and other infrastructure. Some actions include: Reform the property tax system to reduce the reliance of local communities on the property tax system to fund most functions of local government o To reduce the inequities between wealthier and poorer communities; o To reduce the competition among communities for those types of development seen as fiscally beneficial (malls, casinos, etc); o To reduce the number of bad land use decisions driven by desire for tax revenue Reduce duplicative services among communities Ensure standards of competency for municipal employees Expand decision making at the regional level so that decisions match the area to which they apply (i.e. decisions made that impact regional natural resources). Re-evaluate tax system based upon sustainability of tax. Encourage the Commonwealth to alter state policy so that assessors may re-evaluate the concept of highest and best use and replace it with sustainability. Explore new options for units of governance in order to align those units with appropriate issues. Apply financial incentives and disincentives through a sustainability screen to change behavior (e.g., new schools in greenfields vs. renovation of old school buildings; make driving more expensive than commuter rail/bus).

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CONCLUSIONS
There is a widespread belief that our sense of community is being eroded. The causes include the rise of the nuclear family at the expense of the extended family, our suburban development patterns, disparity in income, mobility in choices of work, economic pressures and mass media. Implementing the actions suggested here will go a long way toward reversing the erosion of our sense of community and re-establishing a collective sense of responsibility for our future and for our society.

SRPEDD ACTIONS
The Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District is uniquely positioned to influence our regions future. We can sustain a regional process that asks residents and policy makers to make choices considering the actions suggested above. We can provide assistance to local decision makers in planning for the future. We can lead the discussion toward reaching a regional consensus on sustainability. Prepare a generic master plan for sustainability or template for use by the regions cities and towns. Assist cities and towns in implementing the measures described here. Act as a networking agent within the region to keep communities moving forward. Update this report biennially to maintain it as a living document. Engage the region in a conversation about our future.

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APPENDIX 1: INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOR CHOICES

The following list highlights actions that are not only good for the environment, but may save you money or provide other benefits. YOUR VEHICLE Edmunds.com tested the following suggestions to determine the actual cost savings of doing them. Stop driving like a maniac. Accelerate and brake smoothly. Savings: Up to 37%. Drive the speed limit. Savings: Up to 14%. Dont idle more than a minute. Shut the engine off. Savings: Up to 19%. Drive less. Consolidate errands and shop close to home. If possible, travel during off-peak hours to avoid being stuck in traffic. Get travel directions ahead of time to save gas. Consider transit options when buying a home or choosing a job. Every trip adds to air pollution. For more information, visit: http://www.edmunds.com/advice/fueleconomy/articles/106842/article.html www.italladdsup.gov YOUR HOME Get a free home energy audit for ways to save by maintenance and repair, insulating and weatherstripping. Use a programmable thermostat to lower energy use when youre not at home. Replace old appliances with Energy Star appliances. Families can save about 30% ($400 a year) while reducing their emissions of greenhouse gases. ENERGY STAR is the government's backed symbol for energy efficiency. Air dry clothes. Youll save money. Turn off the lights when you leave the room. Lighting makes up approximately 9% of a homes electricity bill, on average. Replace regular lightbulbs with compact flourescent lightbulbs. They use 75% less energy and last 10 times longer. Use the microwave to cook small meals. (It uses less power than an oven.) Keep everything running smoothly. Clean refrigerator condenser coils twice a year. Change furnace and heat pump filters monthly. Fix leaky toilets. Reduce mowing time. The most conservative estimate says that operating a typical gas lawn mower for an hour is like driving a car 100 miles. To reduce air pollution in your personal space, and to reduce the time you spend mowing, use a grass seed that grows slowly and is appropriate for where you live.

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Maintain a smaller lawn, by planting trees and shrubs that will also reduce the energy costs of heating and cooling your house. Water the lawn or garden during the coolest part of the day (early morning is best). Planting native species will decrease water dependence, and the need for fertilizer and pest control). Get a rain barrel to capture rainwater for your garden. Learn how to plant trees, build a pond, compost, and more from the Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/backyard). Visit www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products..pr_tax_credits#1 for economic incentives for many energy-efficient devices. Go to www.freeenergyanalysis.com/keyspan to learn how you can save energy & money at home. Use the Energy Star Program (www.energystar.gov) to find energy efficient products for your home. Go to http://www.h2ouse.net/ for water saving ideas at home. The website http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer is a consumers guide to energy efficiency and renewable energy. Learn how much electricity your appliances use and more at http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/howmuch.html Visit http://www.epa.gov/watersense/tips/cons.htm for ways to save water inside and outside the home. Visit http://www.pioneerthinking.com/landscape.html for energy-saving ideas with landscaping. YOUR COMPUTER Use the sleep mode on your computer to automatically shut down all necessary components. Use a power strip/surge protector for all your monitors, printers, and other accessories. When this equipment is not in use for extended periods, turn off the switch on the power strip to prevent them from drawing power even when shut off. Get rid of Screen savers. They do not save energy and, in fact, may use more energy than not using one. Modern LCD color monitors do not need them. Donate or recycle your old equipment. If it is less than 5 years old and still working, you can probably donate it. Otherwise, you should recycle it instead. For information on standby power consumption visit http://HomeEnergySaver.lbl.gov. For a list of recyclers, go to www.eiae.org or www.electronicsrecycling.com.

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The website www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/recycle/ecycling/basic.htm also has recycling and donating information. For information about protecting your private information when donating electronics, visit www.goodwill.org/page/guest/about/howweoperate/donations/tipsfordonatingacomputer. Finally, for information on keeping your old computer running, visit www.techsoup.org/howto/articlepage.cfm?ArticleId=554 AT THE STORE Buy products with recyclable packaging or minimal packaging. The longer your communitys landfill stays open, the longer it can go without incurring large costs to open a new landfill. If your community has a pay as you throw trash system, the cost savings to you are more immediate. Take reusable bags with you when you go shopping. Buy locally grown food. http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/buylocal/ It doesnt have to travel hundreds of miles to reach you, reducing the use of fuel and pollution. Usually, local farmers live on the land and want to preserve it, by using sustainable farming methods that help protect the environment. It is fresher, healthier and does not require preservatives to look good. As local farms go out of business, communities lose open space. Most of the money from the food you buy will go to the local farmer and therefore, be retained within the local economy. Tips for reducing trash are at: (www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/reduce/catbook) AT ELECTION TIME Support elected officials and candidates who support policies and choices that consider the future. Get out and vote.

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APPENDIX 2: WEBSITES FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES

Post Carbon Cities U.S. Best Practices http://postcarboncities.net// The Relocalization Network Local Communities / Global Connections http://www.relocalize.net/ Willites, California Economic Relocalization Projects Model for US communities www.willitseconomiclocalization.org/ Bay Area San Francisco Relocalization Projects http://www.baylocalize.org/?q=node/3 Institute for Local Economic Democracy - California www.iled.org/ Energy Farms Network Organic food growing/energy in a post-carbon world www.energyfarms.net Dynamic Cities Project Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada http://dynamiccities.squarespace.com/welcome/ The Lean Economy Connection - UK http://www.theleaneconomyconnection.net/index.html Transition Culture - UK http://transitionculture.org/ Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Smart Growth Projects www.myhamilton.ca/myhamilton/CityandGovernment/ProjectsInitiatives/GRIDS/ Bloomington, Indiana Peak Oil Resolution bloomington.in.gov/egov/docs/1153509647_692731.pdf Community Choice World Alliance for Decentralized Energy www.localpower.org The Natural Step Eco-Municipalities, a systemic approach to sustainability: http://www.naturalstep.org/ http://www.ortns.org/ Portland, OR (business emphasis) http://www.allianceforsustainability.org/tns.htm Northwest Wisconsin http://www.naturalstep.ca/ The Natural Step Canada (e-learning) http://www.afs.nonprofitoffice.com/ Minneapolis, MN http://www.whistler2020.ca/ Whistler, BC, Canada http://www.sustainablelawrence.org/ Lawrence, NJ http://www.sustaindane.org/ Dane County, WI (study circles info) http://www.cityofportsmouth.com/sustainability/ Porstmouth, NH http://webapp.cityofmadison.com/sustainable_design/ Madison, WI http://www.1kfriends.org/Eco-Municipalities.htm 1000 Friends of Wisconsin http://www.sjamesassociates.com/ Eco-municipality trainer/consultant (Cambridge, MA) Green for All Oakland-based organization committed to building a green economy that can lift people out of poverty: http://www.greenforall.org/ Institute for Ecomunicipality Education and Assistance http://instituteforecomunicipalities.org/experience.htm

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APPENDIX 3: FOSSIL FUEL DEPLETION

STUDIES AND REPORTS: Descending the Oil Peak: Navigating the Transition from Oil and Natural Gas Report of the City of Portland (Oregon) Peak Oil Task Force; March 2007 http://www.portlandonline.com/shared/cfm/image.cfm?id=145732 Coal: Resources and Future Production Energy Watch Group Germany; March 2007; EWG-Series No 1/2007 http://www.energywatchgroup.org/files/Coalreport.pdf Crude Oil: Uncertainty about Future Oil Supply Makes It Important to Develop a Strategy for Addressing a Peak and Decline in Oil Production GAO (US Federal Government Accounting Office) Study; February 2007; GAO 07-283 http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d07283.pdf The Hirsch Report- Peaking of World Oil Production: Impacts, Mitigation, and Risk Management US Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory; Dr. Robert L. Hirsch, SAIC, Project Manager (Science Applications International Corp.); February 2005 http://www.mnforsustain.org/oil_peaking_of_world_oil_production_study_hirsch.htm http://www.projectcensored.org/newsflash/the_hirsch_report.pdf Pentagon Oil Study - The Rising Cost and Dwindling Supply of Oil Transforming the Way DoD Looks at Energy: An Approach to Establish an Energy Strategy LMI Logistics Management Institute ; April 2007; Report FT602T1 http://www.oft.osd.mil/library/library_files/document_404_FT602T1_Transforming%20th e%20Way%20DoD%20Looks%20at%20Energy_Final%20Report.pdf An Abrupt Climate Change Scenario and Its Implications for United States National Security Peter Schwartz and Doug Randall; October 2003 http://www.grist.org/pdf/AbruptClimateChange2003.pdf The Oil Depletion Protocol Dr. Colin Campbell / Richard Heinberg; Fall 2006 www.oildepletionprotocol.org/ WEBSITES: ASPO www.peakoil.net The Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas, founded by oil geologist, Dr. Colin Campbell, is dedicated to discussing issues surrounding the supplies of remaining fossil fuels. Conducts annual national and international conferences to discuss fossil fuel declines and related issues. International affiliates are listed.

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Community Solution - www.communitysolution.org Located in Yellow Springs, Ohio, this grassroots think tank focuses on practical solutions in transitioning from fossil fuels to post-carbon relocalization. Its quarterly newsletter, New Solutions, is devoted to looking at a specific topic of relocalization and makes recommendations for sustainable change. Many useful resources available for educating and organizing. Energy Bulletin http://energybulletin.net/ Provides daily updated news about energy issues, focusing on subjects of peak oil, renewable energy, climate change and sustainability. Global Public Media http://www.globalpublicmedia.com This is a media site which describes itself as "Public Service broadcasting for a post-carbon world - full of useful information and interviews. Hubbert Peak of Oil Production http://www.hubbertpeak.com/ Named after the late Dr. M. King Hubbert, geophysicist, this website provides data, analysis and recommendations regarding peak oil and the rate of global oil extraction. Museletter http://www.museletter.com Richard Heinberg's in-depth monthly essays, each focused on a specific topic related to peak oil. His books, The Party's Over, Powerdown, The Oil Depletion Protocol and Peak Everything: Waking Up to the Century of Declines, are essential readings in the peak oil field. The Oil Depletion Analysis Centre (ODAC) http://www.odac-info.org/ An independent, UK-registered educational charity working to raise international public awareness and promote better understanding of the world's oil-depletion problem. The Oil Drum http://www.theoildrum.com features original analysis and discussion primarily relating to peak oil, but also touching on other fossil fuels, renewable energy and transportation. They also have a Europe-focused site: The Oil Drum Europe . The Oil Depletion Protocol http://www.oildepletionprotocol.org Originated by oil geologist Dr. Colin Campbell, this protocol proposes a way to reduce the harmful effects of both peak oil and climate change by urging oil importing nations to reduce their imports by an agreed-upon yearly percentage (the World Oil Depletion Rate), while exporting countries would agree to reduce their rate of exports by their national Depletion Rate. This is a global plan to powerdown in deliberate and sustainable ways, in an effort to minimize energy crises, social dislocations and societal upheavals. Post Carbon Institute - www.postcarbon.org Peak oil think tank of research, ideas, education and action. Co-ordinates over 150 post-carbon groups which have emerged in the last several months in response to impending fossil fuel depletions. Relocalization Network - www.relocalize.net Supports local post-carbon groups making efforts to develop and implement the strategy of relocalization in their communities. Relocalization Network Coordinators assist the Network by providing on-line

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communication tools, developing educational resources, facilitating connections between and among local groups, and cultivating a sense of collaborating globally on local responses to fossil fuel declines. Transition Towns Movement - www.transitiontowns.org and www.transitionculture.org British movement to inform, support and train communities as they consider, adopt and implement a coordinated transition away from fossil fuels and towards a sustainable, localized economy. BOOKS: Beyond Oil: The View from Hubberts Peak, Kenneth S. Deffeyes, Hill and Wang Publishers, New York, NY, 2005. ISBN: 0-809-029-561 Blood and Oil: The Dangers and Consequences of Americas Growing Dependency on Imported Oil, Michael T. Klare, Metropolitan Books, New York, NY, 2004. ISBN: 0-8050-7313-2 The End of Fossil Energy, 3rd edition, John G. Howe, McIntire Publishing Services, Fryeburg, ME, 2006. ISBN: 0-9743404-3-X Fueling Our Future: An Introduction to Sustainable Energy, Robert L. Evans, Cambridge University Press, West Nyack, NY, 2007. ISBN-13: 978-0521684484 The Geography of Hope: A Tour of the World We Need, Chris Turner, Random House Canada, East Mississauga, Ontario, Canada 2007. ISBN-13: 978-0679314653 High Noon for Natural Gas: The New Energy Crisis, Julian Darley, Chelsea Green Publishing Company, White River Junction, VT, 2004. ISBN: 1931-498539. The Long Emergency: Surviving the End of Oil, Climate Change, and Other Converging Catastrophes of the Twenty-First Century, James Howard Kunstler, Grove Press, New York, NY 2005. ISBN: 0-8021-4249-4 The Oil Depletion Protocol, Richard Heinberg, New Society Publishers, Gabriola Island, BC, Canada, 2006. ISBN 13: 978-0-86571-563-9 The Partys Over: Oil, War and the Fate of Industrial Societies, Richard Heinberg, New Society Publishers, Gabriola Island, BC, Canada, 2005. ISBN: 0-8657-1529-7 Peak Everything: Waking Up to the Century of Declines, Richard Heinberg, New Society Publishers, Gabriola Island, BC, Canada, 2007. ISBN: 978-0-86571-598-1 Peak Oil Prep: Three Things You Can Do to Prepare for Peak Oil, Climate Change and Economic Collapse, Mike Winter, Westsong Publishing, Napa, CA, 2006. ISBN: 978-0-9659000-4-1

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Powerdown: Options and Actions for a Post-Carbon World, Richard Heinberg, New Society Publishers, Gabriola Island, BC, Canada, 2004. ISBN: 0-86571-510-6 Twilight in the Desert: The Coming Saudi Oil Shock and the World Economy, Matthew R. Simmons, John Wiley and Sons, Inc. Hoboken, NJ, 2005. ISBN-10: 0-471-73876SRPEDD FILMS: Documentaries and video materials critical for understanding the impending peak oil crisis. (*=Excellent for public showing) *A Crude Awakening: The Oil Crash http://www.oilcrashmovie.com/ 2006 90 minutes

*The End of Suburbia: Oil Depletion and the Collapse of the American Dream 2004 74 minutes www.endofsuburbia.com *The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil 2006 53 minutes www.communitysolution.org/cuba *An Inconvenient Truth http://www.climatecrisis.net/ Peak Oil: Imposed by Nature www.postcarbon.org/store/imposedbynature Escape from Suburbia: Beyond the American Dream www.escapefromsuburbia.com The Oil Factor: Behind the War on Terror www.theoilfactor.com What a Way to Go: Life at the End of Empire http://wwwwhatawaytogomovie.com 2007: Planning for Hard Times 4th Annual Conference/Proceedings http://www.communitysolution.org/conference.html 2006: Beyond Energy Alternatives 3rd Annual Conference/Proceedings http://www.communitysolution.org/conference.html 2005: The Journey Home 2nd Annual Conference/Proceedings http://www.communitysolution.org/conference.html 2006 94 minutes 2005 29 minutes 2007 2004 2007 95 minutes 93 minutes 120 minutes

(about 45 minutes/session) 2007 (about 45 minutes/session) 2006 (about 45 minutes/session) 2005

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