Most experts think we have already reached the end of the era of cheap oil. CEC has thus drawn a line in the sand: Fossil Free by ’33. Sure it’s a cute slogan — but with monumental consequences. Because our economy is energy, we are challenging the tri-county region to set an example for our nation and the world by ending its dependence on fossil fuels — primarily oil and coal — and meeting its needs through conservation and renewable resources, such as solar, wind and wave energy.

CEC has created a Blueprint that will map out the steps this region needs to take to reduce our carbon emissions and completely replace the current and projected energy needs with sustainable energy resources. This will include all energy needs: commercial, governmental, institutional, and residential energy, as well as energy associated with transportation.

Read CEC's Energy Blueprint:
A New Energy Direction: A Blueprint for Santa Barbara County

How can we be Fossil Free by ’33?

The good news is that a dramatic shift away from fossil fuels in our region is completely possible. However, it can only happen if our region actively pursues the following strategies:

1. We must aggressively reduce our energy use by 20 to 50 percent through conservation and more efficient technologies. Our primary targets for this strategy are buildings and the transportation sector.

2. We must purchase and promote electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles as they are developed over the next few years. These vehicles will run either primarily or entirely on electric batteries, which can be recharged from a standard home outlet.

3. We must generate large amounts of electricity from renewable energy. To offset the liquid fuels we now use in our vehicles, we will need to double or triple the amount of electricity we produce. We can do this in small ways by installing solar panels and wind turbines in our own homes and businesses, and in larger ways by developing utility-scale renewable energy plants.

4. We must begin to immediately transition to biofuels and build the market for locally-grown, locally-produced fuels from sustainable crops. These fuels will serve as a bridge while new automobile technologies are developed.

For more information about our program, please contact Energy Program Director Tam Hunt.