Mission Statement

CEC’s mission is to identify, advocate, raise awareness, and develop effective programs to solve the most pressing environmental issues that affect the Santa Barbara region. We currently focus all of our energy on building a community-based movement that transitions the region off of fossil fuels in one generation — Fossil Free by ’33.

Our Results

The Community Environmental Council has been pioneering real life solutions to environmental problems for 41 years. Take a look at our most impressive accomplishments from 2011.
> Download Our Results: 2011

Our Vision 

Our homes and offices create as much energy as they use.

Our cars are efficient and powered by clean energy.

Our electricity is generated by the sun, wind and waves.

Our communities center around people, not cars.

We choose eco smart products that reduce our carbon footprint.

Energy Blueprint for Santa Barbara County

CEC published a groundbreaking report, A New Energy Direction: a Blueprint for Santa Barbara County, in 2007 in partnership with UCSB Economic Forecast Project, UC Berkeley, and CalPoly San Luis Obispo. CEC and our partners performed an in-depth analysis of the costs and benefits of our region becoming “Fossil Free.” 

We found that transitioning away from fossil fuels would actually save money over the long term. The savings come mostly from avoided energy costs through energy efficiency and conservation, but also from the fact that renewable energy can cost less than fossil fuels even today (wind power, in particular) — and in the future renewable energy technologies will become even more cost-effective.  While there are some uncertainties, our economic advisors maintain that transitioning away from fossil fuels pays off through avoided energy, lower electricity costs, and job creation.