Jump to contents

Oil Independent Oakland by 2020 Task Force

On October 17, 2006, the Oakland City Council adopted legislation, sponsored by Councilmember Nancy Nadel, creating a Task Force to help make Oakland oil independent by 2020. The legislation was endorsed by various groups, including the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, the Oakland Apollo Alliance, and Green Cities. [Press Release]

Inspired by Sweden, which released a landmark national action plan in June 2006 that articulates programs and policy measures that are expected to reduce oil consumption in Sweden by as much as 40-50% by 2020, the City of Oakland hopes to provide a similar model for cities in the U.S. - which are facing an absence of state and federal
leadership on sustainable energy policy.

The Oil Independent Oakland (OIO) By 2020 Task Force, composed of local, regional, and national experts including Richard Heinberg, developed a robust oil independence plan, consolidating measures from around the world that can be used locally to reduce oil consumption citywide. The action plan recommended bold initiatives to not only reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, but to also establish Oakland as a national leader in
the green economy and green jobs creation, while seeking to secure Oakland's energy needs.

Top Recommendations

  1. Adopt the Oil Depletion Protocol, thereby committing the City of Oakland to reduce oil consumption in the entire city of Oakland by 3% per annum
  2. Reconfigure the city into multiple strong>Urban Villages that co-locate residential, commercial, retail, and possibly light industrial. This involves and number of steps including updating the General Plan, design review guidelines, and zone.
  3. Develop and implement a Public Transit Master Plan. This also involves an update to the General Plan and the task force strongly urges Oakland to consider a municipal streetcar system.

Enabling Recommendations

  1. Establish and Oil and Gas team charged with management of Oakland's oil independence activities
  2. Develop financing options including a local carbon tax and regional congestion charging
  3. Embark on a massive public outreach and education campaign

Preparedness Recomendation

  1. Develop Contingency Plans for oil price and availability shocks

Download the legislative summary, draft final report and appendix (right click and Save Link As...). Some minor edits of the latter two are expected after Council comments.

Additional information can be found at the The official Oil Independent Oakland web site and in the Staff Report presented to the City Council, Resolution No. 80214 C.M.S., which created the Task Force, and Resolution No. 80305 C.M.S., which established the procedures of the OIO Task Force. On June 5, 2007, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 80605 C.M.S. [Staff Report], which extended the term of the Task Force to December 31, 2007. The Task Force meeting Agendas are listed below.