ABOUT SPG in 2006

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Creation of Sustainable Pacific Grove


Sustainable Pacific Grove was created in the spring of 2006. On March 1, 2006 representatives from the Sustainable Monterey County; beyond Peak Oil, a citizens action committee, provided a presentation on “Peak Oil” 1 to the Pacific Grove City Council. At this meeting the Council voted to support the exploration of a sustainability program for Pacific Grove.

Sustainable Pacific Grove has formed as a local group under the umbrella of Sustainable Monterey County. We recognize that we, like local communities throughout the United States must develop “localization” programs to promote lower consumption of oil, greater local self-reliance, and more cooperative and inclusive communities.

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What we did in 2006


In the first year Sustainable Pacific Grove has undertaken a number of events.

    1. Outreach Efforts – The first steps of the Sustainable Pacific was the showing of the film, “End of Suburbia”. Two showings were held on May 13 and May 16 2006. After the film, audience members were invited to share their comments. ( See Attachment 2   and   see Attachment 3 )

    2. Community Brainstorming – A community-brainstorming workshop on sustainability was held on May 30th, 2006. The workshop participants were asked to determine the type of projects that should be considered for Pacific Grove. ( See Attachment 4   and   see Attachment 5 )

    3. First Meetings of Sustainable Pacific Grove –; At the first meeting of Sustainable Pacific Grove participants were asked to identify and set priorities for the work that they would like to undertake. A survey was provided that listed the ideas that were development in the Community Brainstorming meeting. ( See Attachment 6 )

    4. Subcommittee Activities – To better focus our work, a number of subcommittees were formed and met throughout the summer. They included: Food/Sustainability Store, Water, Energy, Transportation, Education, and City Action.

    5. Council Actions on Climate Changes – In the fall of 2006, Sustainable Pacific Grove requested that the City of Pacific Grove adopt the United Nations Urban Environmental Accords ( see Attachment 7 ) and the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. ( see Attachment 8 ) The Council adopted both of these measures.

    6. Emergency Response Workshop – To encourage residents and city staff to begin to plan of emergencies related to fuel shortages, Sustainable Pacific Grove held a half-day workshop. Meeting participants were asked to work together to identify the steps that might be needed. ( See Attachment 9 )

    7. START Center – Sustainable Pacific Grove proposed to the City Council that a city facility we identified to be used as a demonstration site for sustainability activities. The identification of a site that would be appropriate is on going. ( See Attachment 10 )

1 “Peak Oil” can be thought of as the point when about half of the original endowment of economically extractable oil on the planet has been burned. The term Peak Oil refers the maximum rate of the production of oil in any area under consideration, recognizing that it is a finite natural resource, subject to depletion." Colin Campbell

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Updated February 15 , 2010.