Updated Alert: The County of Santa Barbara Planning Commission decided on March 27 that they need more information on the controversial ERG cyclic steaming oil project, continuing the item until May 29th. 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.
Original Alert: Oppose risky oil development in Santa Barbara County by signing a petition or speaking at the Santa Barbara County Planning Commision meeting on March 13.
Original Alert: Sign the petition to urge the Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District to transition to 100% electric buses by 2030. Setting this goal will lead to cleaner air, cut climate pollution, improve the health of our region’s residents, and increase jobs.
Result:Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District voted unanimously to set a goal of 100% all-electric buses by 2030, joining Los Angeles and seven other California Transit Agencies.
Original Alert: Call Assemblymember Monique Limón today to share your support for 100% carbon-free energy in California by 2045.
Result: 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.
Original Alert: Support Community Choice Energy for Santa Barbara by signing a petition or speaking at any of three hearings on July 17: Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, Goleta City Council, or Santa Barbara City Council.
Result: About 145 people signed a petition or came out to speak at the three hearings on July 17, 2018. Coupled with over a decade of encouragement from the Community Environmental Council and other advocates, the County of Santa Barbara and the Cities of Santa Barbara and Goleta each independently voted to move forward with launching a local Community Choice program.
Original Alert: Tell Santa Barbara City Council to reduce or eliminate single-use plastics by signing a petition or speaking at the July 17 City Council hearing.
Result: With a hundred signatures and individuals showing up to testify at City Council, a ban on Styrofoam food service items & retail sales will go into effect January 1, 2019, as well as a ban on plastic straws with a provision that food providers must ask customers if they need plastic cutlery or stirrers before providing.
Result: Over 1,200 signatures were gathered, and citizens turned out in record numbers to show support for renewable energy, filling Santa Barbara City Council's chambers, overflow room, and even the balcony. In a 5-1 vote, the council committed to setting a goal of achieving 100% renewable energy by 2030.
Result: Thanks to the hundreds of supporters who wrote letters, signed petitions, or spoke at today's hearing, Community Choice Energy will get the funding it needs to help move Santa Barbara County to a clean energy future.
Result: Over 130 community members showed up to the initial hearing for the latest Bicycle Master Plan, and 300 CEC followers signed our letter of support. After months of further meetings and public input, the Master Plan was approved thanks to community support.
Result: 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.
Result: Governor Jerry Brown signed SB 350 into law, which requires California to generate 50% of its electricity sources renewably by 2030.
Result: 130 people took action and showed their support for clean energy.
Original Alert:The Cuyama Solar Project proposes to 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. Show your support by testifying before the Planning Committee.
Result: 62 people took action and showed their support for clean energy.
Original Alert:The California Senate Energy Committee was considering Assembly Bill (AB) 2145. The proposed legislation thwarts California’s environmental goals, infringes upon local government decision-making, and will effectively destroy the future of Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) in the state of California.
Result: 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.
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: On Tuesday, November 12, the County Board of Supervisors will consider our appeal of the Santa Maria Energy Project. CEC, along with EDC and others, appealed the Planning Commission’s approval of the project, as it only required a 29% mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Result: 159 people took action, helping establish Santa Barbara as an environmental leader.
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.