Renewable Energy Projects

Vision: Electricity is generated by the sun, wind, and waves.

CEC envisions a future where 100% of our electricity is generated from clean, renewable, and local sources to power our homes, businesses, and cars. In CEC’s New Energy Direction: a Blueprint for Santa Barbara County we show that the abundant availability of sun, wind and waves in our region can provide more than enough renewable energy to meet our needs.

WHAT CEC IS DOING

The Santa Barbara region is blessed with abundant energy from the sun, wind, and waves — right here in our own backyards. To get more electricity generated by these renewable resources, CEC:

Advocates for local and responsible projects
Provides guidance to government agencies and businesses
Helps residents with tools they need to get started
Tracks all major Santa Barbara renewable energy projects

Solar Energy

Solar power has great local potential - for both individuals and utility companies - because of the abundant sunlight that falls on the Central Coast region. CEC is making home solar power ownership easier through Solarize Santa Barbara, and bringing solar technology into the public sphere via public events like Solar SUNday and the Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival.
> Our Solar Power Programs

Wind Energy

Wind power is a major component of CEC’s plan to eliminate the use of fossil fuels because the technology is cost effective, the industry is strong, and we get more than enough wind to meet our energy needs. In fact, our research shows that wind power could theoretically produce over 100 times the region’s current demand for electricity. CEC has been successful in helping bring wind energy to this region.
> Our Wind Energy Programs

Wave Power

Renewable energy resources like wave power are feasible clean energy opportunities for our region. CEC is keeping tabs on wave energy technologies and local projects, and bringing the discussion of wave energy to the public sphere. While still a relatively new technology, wave power is being used in other parts of the world and may be feasible on the California Coast.

Waste to Energy Conversion

CEC is supporting local business innovators that collect and use the power of methane gas from their waste products, such as the fuel cell powered by onion waste at Gil’s Onions. We are tracking the proposed waste to energy facility at Santa Barbara’s Tajiguas Landfill.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Explore - CEC’s recent developments and programs in Solar Power and Wind Power .

Participate in CEC’s Solarize Santa Barbara program, a group purchasing discount program that makes home solar power accessible and easy.

Connect with CEC at one of our events, like Solar SUNday and community workshops found on our Event Calendar.

Sign up for email news and events from CEC and action alerts to help support renewable energy in our region.

Subscribe to CEC’s blog and get the lastest news on our efforts to follow renewable energy developments.