Past Action Alerts
Help California get to Carbon Neutrality by 2035
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) will soon decide on two major issues impacting California's ability to move quicker on combating the climate crisis. We need you to share your voice and spread the word on two key issues: Carbon Neutrality and Clean Cars. Take 5 minutes today to advance critical climate policy by 10 years.
WIN: All-electric new building construction is the future of Santa Barbara
On Tuesday, July 20, 2021, Santa Barbara City Council and Mayor Cathy Murillo voted unanimously to enact a new building ordinance prohibiting natural gas infrastructure in newly constructed buildings, with the exception of restaurants and applications where there isn't yet a viable electric alternative to gas. With this vote, the City takes an important step toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions and meeting our 2035 carbon neutrality goal.
WIN: City of Santa Barbara moves forward an Energy Code Amendment
The City of Santa Barbara is moving forward an Energy Code Amendment that would require new buildings to be built all-electric instead of also using natural gas. This new code does not apply to existing buildings or homes, and will have NO affect on existing buildings supplied by natural gas.
These new buildings will help make zero carbon communities possible and will get us a step closer to the City's goal of Carbon Neutrality by 2035. The next step is to consult with stakeholders and bring back a refined all-electric code for new buildings in the next couple months.
WIN: City of Santa Barbara sets bold goal of Carbon Neutrality by 2035
We did it! Join us in applauding the City of Santa Barbara for joining the City of San Luis Obispo in setting a goal of Carbon Neutrality by 2035. On the heels of Governor Newsom's executive order to advance key zero-emission climate goals to 2035, this decision represents a momentous step forward for our city, our region, and our state.
WIN: Strauss Wind Project underway! #cleanenergy
We are pleased to share that the Strauss Wind Project received its permits in early May. This means that construction can begin on Santa Barbara’s first wind farm. Renewable energy continues to be more cost-effective than oil and gas and the struggles of the fossil fuel industry during the COVID-19 pandemic are only increasing this divide.
Stop risky oil development in Santa Barbara County
The Santa Barbara County Planning Commission heard public comment on the controversial ERG cyclic steaming oil project on March 13, 2019. Comments took the entire day and they pushed the report to be heard on March 27. After the March 27 meeting, they determined they needed more information, continuing the item until May 29.
They directed staff to conduct research on many of the points CEC brought up, specifically around the carbon intensity of the proposed oil production and what a greenhouse gas offset plan would look like. We will keep following the issue and share updates as we receive them.
WIN: Santa Barbara Unified goes solar
Thanks to advocacy efforts from CEC and others, and particularly CEC past board president and SBUSD board member Laura Capps, Santa Barbara Unified School District moved forward with a comprehensive solar and storage project. Fourteen sites will install solar and six will include battery energy storage, for a total of five megawatts of solar and five megawatt hours of energy storage. This is one of the largest solar+storage projects in Santa Barbara and a fantastic asset for our community.
WIN: SB 100 signed into law
Your voice helped move California one step closer to a clean energy future. The 78 calls made by CEC's followers contributed to the passage of SB 100, which requires California to move to 100% carbon-free energy by 2045. It will next need to pass the Senate, and be signed by Governor Jerry Brown.
SB 100 calls for California to move to 100% Carbon Free Electricity by 2045. Amid rising concerns about the impacts of climate change, the California Assembly voted to pass the bill in late August. Next, it moved on to the Senate before landing on the desk of Governor Jerry Brown, who added on an executive order establishing a new target to achieve carbon neutrality, also by 2045.
WIN: Community Choice Energy takes a huge step forward
After over a decade of encouragement from the Community Environmental Council and other advocates, the County of Santa Barbara, and the Cities of Santa Barbara, Goleta, and Carpinteria all independently voted to move forward with launching a local Community Choice program.
WIN: City of Goleta votes unanimously for 100% renewable energy by 2030
We did it! Goleta Becomes 51st city in U.S. to Set 100% Renewable Energy Goal
In an unanimous vote, City of Goleta council members committed to moving the city's municipal facilities and community-wide electricity supply to 100% renewable power by 2030. They also resolved to have at least 50 percent of electricity use by municipal facilities come from renewable sources by 2025. To support these goals, the city authorized investigating the feasibility of a city-wide Community Choice Energy program that could encourage more local renewable generation.
WIN: City of Santa Barbara to go 100% renewable by 2030 #readyfor100
We did it! Santa Barbara Becomes 30th City in U.S. to set 100% Renewable Energy Goal.
Citizens turned out in record numbers to show support for renewable energy, filling the council chambers, overflow room, and even a balcony. In a 5-1 vote, City Council committed to setting a goal of achieving 100% renewable energy by 2030. Learn more about the hearing and what's next in the articles below, and stay tuned to CEC for opportunities to further support this new citywide goal.
WIN: Clean energy for Santa Barbara
Great News! Your Support Helped Community Choice Energy Move Forward.
The County Board of Supervisors just voted to fund the next steps for developing a local Community Choice Energy program, bringing us one step closer to a clean energy future. Today’s vote will continue the County’s progress toward launching this powerful tool which can offer our region cleaner electricity at competitive, and possibly even less expensive, rates. With funding now budgeted, the County will be poised to move into the next phases of development without undue delay.Thanks to the hundreds of supporters who wrote letters, signed petitions or spoke at today’s hearing. Together we are helping move Santa Barbara County to a clean energy future.
WIN: Protect rooftop solar in California
Over 130,000 people, 270+ of which were CEC followers, took action to protect rooftop solar in California. This overwhelming display of support marks the largest number of public comments ever recorded at the CPUC.
WIN: Support clean energy
On June 10th, Santa Barbara County’s Board of Supervisors voted to fund a feasibility study for Community Choice Energy. Following Santa Barbara’s lead, Ventura County and San Luis Obispo County (as well as several cities) have since signed to participate in and fund this study. Thanks to the more than 130 people who took action on this alert!
LOSS: Measure P Fails to Pass in Santa Barbara County
In Santa Barbara County, voters voted against Measure P with "no" votes outnumbering "yes" 63 percent to 37 percent. In San Benito and Mendocino Counties, voters approved bans on high-intensity oil production techniques. In San Benito, nearly 57 percent of voters supported Measure J. Mendocino’s Measure S passed decisively with 67 percent of the vote.
CEC will continue to work towards banning high-risk oil extraction techniques.
WIN: Cuyama solar project
On September 9, 2014, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the Cuyama Solar Project, Santa Barbara County's first utility-scale solar project. The Cuyama Solar Project will convert 327 acres of previously disturbed, over-drafted farmland in the Cuyama Valley into a solar facility that will generate enough power for 16,000 California homes and avoid the emissions of 30,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
WIN: No on AB 2145
On August 30, 195 people took action and spoke out against AB 2145. The bill is currently in committee. We will update this as new information becomes available.
WIN: Santa Maria Energy Project Appeal
159 people took action against dirty oil development. After an impassioned six-hour hearing with 110 public commenters, the Board of Supervisors voted to uphold the appeal that was brought by CEC, the Los Padres Sierra Club, Get Oil Out, and the Santa Barbara County Action Network and represented by the Environmental Defense Center. They decided on a 10,000 metric ton threshold for greenhouse gas emissions. While this is not the zero emission threshold we were asking for, it requires Santa Maria Energy to offset almost 90% of their greenhouse gas emissions, instead of the 29% that the Planning Commission had previously approved.
This decision establishes Santa Barbara as an environmental leader. Mitigation will either occur onsite or by funding environmental offset projects.
Big Solar in Santa Barbara County?
We all agree that rooftop solar is important. But what about utility scale solar? At CEC, we think that both have a place in our energy future, but only if they are completed in a responsible, environmentally beneficial manner.
WIN: Plan SB: Energy and environment subsections to be decided
We are happy to report that the City Council made no changes to the Sustainability Principles or Environmental Resource Element Goals in the Santa Barbara General Plan.