Mission and Vision

SUSTAINABLE OXFORD HILLS ENERGY TASK FORCE
Consolidated Problem Statement, Objective, Vision Statements,
Central Issues, and Easy Things to Do Tomorrow

PROBLEM STATEMENT
The escalating tension between worldwide energy depletion and continued
population growth will make it necessary for the eight towns of Oxford Hills to
transition from global consumerism to a local economy by 2020.

TASK FORCE OBJECTIVE
Our objective is to help the community develop an understanding of the serious
challenges we face and the need to tackle them collectively, create a sense of
urgency for action, and help find realistic solutions for each Vision component.

VISION STATEMENTS
ENERGY
Develop and manage sources of renewable and sustainable energy that are
necessary to address each of the following community essentials:

• FOOD & WATER
• Develop sources of clean water and wholesome food in sufficient quantities to sustain our communities; including surpluses for crop failures, future seed supplies, trade, and drought.
• SHELTER
• Incorporate methods for highly energy efficient building with locally available materials. Develop strategies to renovate existing buildings using these methods.
• ELECTRICAL POWER
• Maintain electrical capabilities for light, machinery, medical services, communications, information and computers.
• HEAT
• Implement strategies for the effective generation of safe and reliable heat for buildings, cooking, hot water and industrial applications.
• TRANSPORTATION
• Identify current and future transportation realities and needs, challenge current practices, and then develop alternatives to the existing transportation infrastructure.
• GOODS
• Identify the basic material necessities of the community and develop local manufacturing capabilities or access to external sources. (Clothing, shoes, matches, soap, paper, etc.)
• COMMUNITY SERVICES
• Provide for essential public services including education, health, safety, security and social services.
• ECONOMY
• Prepare to adapt to external economic changes with a local and sustainable economic model. NOTE: Check Out the “Steady State Economy”

CENTRAL ISSUES FOR THE COMMUNITY PRESENTATION

• Annotated with comments from 5-19-10 meeting.
• Economy
• Growth Based Economy
• Surplus Energy for Growth
• Credit Dependency/Personal Debt
• Lack of Saving
• National Debt/GDP?
• Jobs: Need vs. Availability
• Segment Into Personal, National, International: GDP (earnings)/Savings/Debt (debt/gdp 30% for US, 108% for Greece)
• Environment
• Resource Depletion: Oil/Minerals/Water/Topsoil/Desertification
• Population: Exponential Growth Driving Accelerated Resource
• Depletion and Biodiversity (species extinction/pollution)
• Climate Change: Environment Being Altered To Point Of
• Unmanageability: Population Displacement and Migration (consider
• leaving out of initial presentation)
• Energy
• Net Energy: Cost Of Extraction
• Peak Oil
• Growth In Worldwide Demand
• Alternate and Renewable Energy Limitations/Realities
• Food

1. Transportation
2.  Production
3.  Fertilizer
4.  Mega Farm Government Subsidies vs. local farms (10 calories in for 1 calorie out, 30 lbs. grain for 1 lb. beef)

EASY THINGS TO DO STARTING TODAY TO REDUCE ENERGY
CONSUMPTION (new topic from 5-19 meeting)
Take Advantage of the  Alan Day Community Garden to Raise Some
of Your Own Vegetables (call ___________)
Eat Less Meat
Insulate Your Home
Buy Energy Star Appliances
Carpool
Consolidate Trips to Town
Fill Your Gas Tank No More Than Halfway (weight reduction
increases MPG by 3% to 5%)
Walk
TBC