What Citizens for Local Power Does

Citizens for Local Power (C4LP) is a grassroots, all volunteer collection of energy advocates, comprised of folks who originally organized to explore energy options as part of an action group associated with Local 20/20 in Jefferson County, WA. Local 20/20 was organized to facilitate greater local self-reliance in a number of critical areas such as, Food & Farms, Water, Emergency Preparation, Shelter, Energy, Health and Wellness, etc.

In general, our members act in various ways. As a proactive energy action group, we research and invite experts with a range of experience in the field of renewable and sustainable energy systems as well as presenters who offer potential scenarios of what we may all be facing downstream in order to keep our local citizenry apprised of appropriate technological choices intended to satisfy the demands of a changing energy future.

Meanwhile, under the C4LP label, we focus on advocacy for particular outcomes. Our first effort was to conduct a campaign that authorized our Public Utility District to negotiate with a private, regional power company in order to acquire our electrical distribution grid. That effort resulted in a successful campaign and we are now well on our way to having local control of that grid, providing livable family wage jobs and direct access to the Commissioners who will be setting rates and making sure our electric service remains economically viable and technically reliable.

So while we serve in at least two capacities, education and advocacy, we are the same organization of volunteer activists changing hats and names depending on the role required.

Updated Calendar of Events

Citizens for Local Power Committed Calendar Activities

January 7th, 2011, Citizens for Local Power's monthly meeting is changed to the Food Coop Annex (2432 Washington St - across the street from the Port Townsend Yacht Club), beginning promptly at 4 PM. We'll be discussing our January 14th "Peak Oil" program and other items as suggested by attendees.

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January 12th (Wed) 7:30 pm, Port Townsend Community Center, 620 Tyler St. Video: "A Crude Awakening"

Edited notes from the web site (www.oilcrashmovie.com/film.html):

"...(Crude Awakening) tells the story of how our civilization’s addiction to oil puts it on a collision course with geology. Compelling, intelligent, and highly entertaining, the film visits with the world’s top experts and comes to a startling, but logical conclusion – our industrial society, built on cheap and readily available oil, must be completely re-imagined and overhauled.

"The idea that the world’s oil supplies have peaked, or will soon, is gaining mainstream currency.  Robert B. Semple, Jr., associate editor of the New York Times editorial board, wrote in the paper’s March 1, 2006, online edition:

“The Age of Oil — 100-plus years of astonishing economic growth made possible by cheap, abundant oil — could be ending without our really being aware of it. Oil is a finite commodity. At some point even the vast reservoirs of Saudi Arabia will run dry. But before that happens there will come a day ... when demand overtakes supply (and never looks back), resulting in large and possibly catastrophic price increases that could make today's $60-a-barrel oil(*) look like chump change. Unless, of course, we begin to develop substitutes for oil... The concept of peak oil... deserves a careful look...”

Semple concludes: “These [are] not doomsday scenarios from conspiracy theorists, but hard scientific facts backed by serious research.”

Donations to help cover the costs are welcome.

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Local 20/20's Energy Action Group
Presents:

Peak Oil: Challenges, Options and Opportunities

The General Public is invited to hear Jim Hansen, of Ravenna Capital Management, also a frequent presenter at Peak Oil Conferences, as he explores the challenges, options and opportunities in our energy future.

This informational event takes place Friday, January 14th at 12 PM. Doors open at 11:30AM in the Northwest Maritime Center Meeting Rm - 431 Water St, Port Townsend, WA.

For additional event information send email to "info at citizensforlocalpower.org" with the Subject line "Peak Oil".

This event is funded by The Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas (ASPO-USA), Power Trip Energy, The Leader, Sunshine Propane and co-sponsored by Local 20/20's Food Resiliency Action Group, the Transportation Lab and Huber's Inn.

Frequently Asked Questions

Contact us at Citizens for Local Power if you need information or are curious about how we successfully campaigned to acquire our power distribution grid. We'll let you know where to call for all the details but plan at least an hour for the conversation!