Dive Into Your Imagination

Fossil Free by 2033!

In 2004, after more than three decades of environmental leadership, CEC drastically restructured to focus on a single mission: to move Santa Barbara County and our surrounding region away from fossil fuels in one generation. Given the urgent concerns of climate change, peak oil, and dependence on foreign oil, we strongly believe that this transition should be the top environmental and economic priorities for the region and nation.Fossil fuels have played a pivotal role in the evolution of modern society; without them, we would likely still be living in an agricultural economy, with none of the benefits that we enjoy today in terms of transportation, medical advancements, sanitation, and entertainment. But a century of burning fossil fuels has taken its toll, and the time has come to find alternatives. CEC’s mission is to make today’s generation the last to rely on gasoline for fueling its cars, and coal- and natural-gas-created electricity for heating and lighting its buildings.

Why we need to replace fossil fuels:

There are a number of serious, complex problems that arise from relyingon non-renewable energy sources. Here are three: * About 70 percent ofour nation’s oil demand is imported — much of this from politicallyunstable regions in the Middle East, making the American economyvulnerable to unfriendly foreign governments, terrorism, blackmail, orother disruptions in supply. In addition, protecting these resourcesrequires military commitments that are expensive, in terms of bothdollars and human life. * Fossil fuels emit large amounts of carbondioxide and methane into the atmosphere — the two major “greenhousegases.” As these gases accumulate, they act as a blanket, keeping heatin our atmosphere and oceans, leading to potentially catastrophicconsequences for our planet and everyone living on it. In the lastcentury, global temperatures have risen an average of about 1.3° F, andtwice that in polar zones. This may not seem like a large increase, buton a global basis, this is an incredibly fast, dramatic temperaturerise. * Fossil fuels – which took millions of years to develop – are alimited resource. The phrase “peak oil” refers to that point in globaloil production when the oil that remains in the ground becomes moredifficult and less cost-effective to extract. While experts don’t agreeon when we will reach the “peak” (or if we already have), all agreethat we will – and soon. Over the last few years, we have started toexperience some of the volatility in price and supply that many believeis related to peak oil.

How we can do it:

The two biggest energy-using sectors in our region are buildings, whichaccount for about 37 percent of our energy needs, and transportation,which accounts for about 48 percent. In our energy plan for SantaBarbara County – A New Energy Direction – CEC focuses on solutions inwhich there are available, cost-effective technologies, and where wehave the potential for local influence.For example, in the building sector, our communities can set stringentlocal building codes and educate and inspire designers and builders.However, in the transportation sector, fuel efficiency standards areset in Washington, D.C. and cars are designed and built in Detroit,Berlin orTokyo. This is not to say that we can’t influence energy use on ourroads; to the contrary. We just need to take a creative approach thatkeeps in mind those things that we have control over.For details on how our region can move away from fossil fuels, see Ourplan for getting there .

How the Santa Barbara region can lead the way:

Californiais in a unique position of influence, having recently passed the mostcomprehensive global warming solutions bill in the nation (AB 32). Aswith recycling 20 years ago, many states are now waiting to see whattype of mandates and voluntary programs California will propose beforethey take action of their own. As the 6th largest economy in the worldand one of the most influential states in the nation, what happens herematters.Santa Barbara, too, is in a unique position. Our region has access toan array of renewable energy resources – particularly the sun, wind andocean – and our communities are defined by a level of deepenvironmental concern. While we may not be the largest or mostinfluential region in the state, we are perfectly positioned to serveas a testing ground. When it comes to making political and societalchanges, Santa Barbara is small enough to be able to change course withrelative speed, and yet large enough to matter when those changes aremade.

Content Compliments of www.CECSB.org

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed