PlaNYC, the City’s sustainability plan, is a great initial response to climate change.  However, despite the recent correction, the more immediate threat is rising and increasingly volatile fuel prices, addressed only indirectly by PlaNYC. With world oil production expected to peak and begin permanent decline as early as 2010, further price increases and fuel shortages are very likely. US Energy Information Agency reports demonstrate that drilling for more offshore oil will do nothing to lower oil prices now, and will be insignificant in the long run also. Moving beyond oil as quickly as possible will minimize the economic impact of higher fuel prices, while creating millions of green jobs, rebuilding our infrastructure around sustainable power and transportation, and speeding up climate change response. The Sierra Club NYC report, “Sustainable Energy Independence for New York City,” offers other short- and long-term recommendations at the City, State and National levels. Upon release in spring 2008, it was endorsed by over 20 organizations.

Fall 2008 Update and Summary

1. Revise plans and budgets for higher energy costs
Convene a NYC Council Energy Price Task Force to identify mitigations for future energy price and supply scenarios, as has been done by San Francisco, Portland, Oregon, and Cleveland, Ohio.  Councilmember Tony Avella has requested the drafting of legislation to create such a task force.

2.  Create contingency plans for price spikes and fuel shortages.  
City government should anticipate fuel disruptions and make plans to deal with price spikes or shortages of motor fuel, heating oil and/or natural gas, whether the cause is economic, geological, or political.  An energy shortage contingency plan was considered but not passed by the City Council in 2004.  This issue has not been addressed by City sustainability initiatives or the NYC Office of Emergency Management.

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Five page version with links to sources