The Community Environmental Council (CEC) is a small and dedicated non-profit with a very big mission: ending the Santa Barbara region’s dependence on fossil fuels in one generation. It's been a busy year for CEC. After all, moving our region off fossil fuels is no small task. Check out this infographic of our most impressive accomplishments from 2011.

Thank you to everyone who helped us this year: donors, green-minded businesses, Solarize SB participants, Facebook fans, Earth Day attendees...  you all help power the clean energy movement in Santa Barbara. Consider giving back by making a donation to CEC this year.

Share this infographic on Facebook and Twitter.

Click the image for a full size version.

Share this infographic on Facebook and Twitter.

Are you in?

Fossil fuels have carried us a long way. But after 100 years, it's time to call it. The age of fossil fuels is over.

If we do it right, we can shift into a new economy fueled by clean, renewable energy. One that results in a net gain of $1.5 billion to our county’s economy by 2030. This is CEC’s mission, and we need your help.

Step 1: Watch

Check out this fast-paced 2-minute video about a movement in Santa Barbara to get off fossil fuels in one generation:

The decisions we make often have far reaching consequences.  The most recent version of the Santa Barbara Independent, featured "It Ain't Easy Being Green" as the cover story. Writer Brandon Fastman grapples with the decisions we must make regarding our energy use and our expectations of energy generation.  He accurately portrays some of the barriers to renewable energy, as well as some of the opportunities we have locally.

We at CEC strongly believe that we can find a balance between the local impacts, and the global and local benefits of renewable energy development.  To get there, we’ve got to work together to find solutions to those barriers and set safeguards in place.  Only then can we truly have sustainable development that protects the environment, promotes a healthy economy, and creates a more equitable earth.

While you’re poking around this week’s issue of the Independent make sure to check out our Festival Guide. It’s absolutely jam packed with highlights and activities at the Earth Day Festival this weekend. We hope to see you there!

In a recent vote, California lawmakers voted to pass a bill that would require a third of our state’s electricity to come from clean energy sources, such as solar power and wind energy, by 2020.

If passed by Governor Jerry Brown, this innovative bill would place California as a national leader for increasing the use of renewable energy – within this decade. The bill gives California a significant boost to the clean energy and green technology market – and their investors. Proponents of the bill, penned by state Senator Joe Simitian of Palo Alto, estimate the approach could mean creating as many as 100,000 jobs.

The bill comes at a time when some federal legislators have taken aim at banning EPA spending to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.

On a local Santa Barbara level, CEC has been working to support renewable energy projects with the vision that 100% of our electricity comes from renewable energy sources within one generation. We want to see our homes, businesses and cars powered by clean, renewable and local sources of power. Read what CEC is doing and how you can help.