7 Dec 2010

Dunedin looks at how to deal with peak oil

9:20 am on 7 December 2010

Dunedin City Council says turning to electricity to power its public transport could be one way of dealing with higher petrol prices in the future.

The council commissioned a report looking at Dunedin's vulnerability to peak oil.

The report's author, Susan Krumdieck from the University of Canterbury, says the city should plan to reduce fuel consumption by 50% in the next forty years.

Dunedin city councillor Kate Wilson says the physical infrastructure is available for electric trolley buses but the Otago Regional Council will need to be involved in planning.