past action alert

Original Alert: Let the County Planning Commission know that you oppose the Santa Maria Energy Project. If approved by the commission, the project would use cyclic steaming to heat and extract oil — an intensive method that makes it one of the largest greenhouse gas producing projects in our region.

Result: 240 people took action against dirty oil development. The Planning Commission voted in favor of mitigating the project’s carbon emissions by only 29% and not the requested 0%.

Original Alert: The City of Santa Barbara's General Plan Update is coming back to the City Council, Tuesday, July 26. Key decisions relating to energy, climate change and the environment will occur tomorrow, and the impacts will be felt for decades. Please help us encourage the Council to empower future generations with appropriate tools and resources.

Result: The City Council strengthened ER6.6 by writing in requirements for all residential, commercial, and industrial buildings, but the Council did not take action on the use of renewable energy on historic structures as we asked.

Original Alert: On Tuesday, September 18, the Santa Barbara City Council will consider adopting a draft Climate Action Plan. While CEC supports the City’s efforts, we do not feel the plan goes far enough. Please support CEC's recommendations to the City to strengthen the plan.

Result: 76 people took action. The Santa Barbara City Council voted 6-1 to pass the Climate Action Plan with the direction for a 25% reduction in community wide emissions from 1990 levels by 2020.

Original Alert: On Thursday, October 18, the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) will be voting on a regional transportation plan. They can decide to force our county to sprawl into open spaces and farmland — or they can concentrate future growth in transit-oriented, infill developments in existing cities that will reduce traffic and congestion. Please help them make the right choice.

Result: 63 people took action. The SBCAG board voted unanimously to support Scenario 3+ for their SB 375 Sustainable Communities Strategy.

Original Alert: Teamsters Union Local 186, which represents MTD drivers, mechanics, and utility workers, has concerns about the impact of California’s Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) on bargaining rights. This has created a situation that may cause MTD to lose federal funding and would lead to a severe reduction in transit service in our area. Ask the DOL not to cut our service.

Result: 183 people took action.