Committee forwards four nominees to Peak Oil Preparedness Task Force

The Rules Committee considered appointments to a newly created Peak Oil Preparedness Task Force and agreed to forward four nominees to the full Board for confirmation.

Supervisor Ross Mercarimi, who sponsored the item and cited Board Resolution 60,442, told colleagues the task force would review peak oil and related natural-gas production issues, evaluate economic and social consequences, seek community and business input on impacts and solutions, and make recommendations on mitigation strategies for areas including transportation, business and home energy use, water, food security, health care, communications, land use and emergency preparedness. He said the Environment Department would staff the task force and that it "will sunset within 1 year of its formation."

Ten applicants sought seven seats; the committee heard several applicants in person. Applicants who spoke described a mix of technical, planning and grassroots backgrounds: Carl Duisburg described experience in resource economics and prior Department of Energy work; Walker Cunningham emphasized public outreach and the need to build public support; Bernard Meyerson warned of near-term price impacts; Jan (Jean) Marie Rosenmeyer, Jason Mark and Jan Lundberg outlined expertise in small-business impacts, sustainable food production and oil-market analysis, respectively.

Supervisor Mercarimi recommended forwarding four nominees — Jean/Jan Marie Rosenmeyer, Carl Duisburg, Bernard Meyerson and Jan Lundberg — "without objection" and said the committee would continue recruiting to round out the task-force composition. The committee agreed to forward the names to the full Board. The task force will have a one-year sunset and supervisors stressed the importance of vocational and demographic diversity among appointees.