Central Coast communities are making steady and tangible progress in reversing climate change, according to the latest report from the Community Environmental Council (CEC). 

In its 2021-2025 Impact Report, the organization said it navigated several challenges, including the pandemic, disrupted federal policies, and the unexpected loss of over $1.5 million in promised federal climate funding, all while working to ensure communities are protected from climate change.

With the help of local governments, farmers, businesses, frontline organizations, and community members, CEC helped bring renewable energy to 90% of residents in the counties of Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Luis Obispo. 

CEC also directed millions of dollars into climate-smart agriculture methods, built community resilience hubs, and expanded access to clean transportation, according to the report.  

Transition to Clean Energy

CEC worked along with partners to expand residents’ access to renewable energy and accelerate adoption of electric vehicles (EV) to advance communities toward a zero-carbon future. 

From 2021 to 2025, CEC installed more than 1,000 EV chargers across the Central Coast through partnerships with Electric Ride 805. 

Fourteen solar installations are generating power to Santa Barbara Unified School District campuses, while 36,000 homes are powered by clean energy from the region’s first wind farm. 

Restoring the Carbon Cycle

Agriculture, a significant part of the Central Coast’s economy, is evolving and adopting “smart” techniques to restore the carbon cycle by drawing carbon out of the atmosphere. 

Over the past five years, CEC strengthened regional partnerships to expand the adoption of regenerative land management practices. 

More than 60 landowners were supported with technical assistance, from planning and plant selection to navigating reimbursements.  

CEC distributed $2.6 million to agricultural producers who implemented climate solutions and helped open new consumer markets for climate-smart agricultural products.  

The organization supported SB 675, expanding investment in prescribed grazing as a climate solution. 

Building Climate Resilience

CEC has been preparing communities for the harsh impacts of climate change that are already being experienced, including wildfires and extreme weather conditions. 

CEC has developed models for community-based resilience and emergency response, including building Santa Barbara County’s first Climate Resilience Action Plan. 

The organization has piloted three community resilience hubs throughout Santa Barbara County and initiated Ventura County’s first Heat Action Plan. 

In Cuyama Valley, where residents have been experiencing increasing climate risks, CEC partnered with the Blue Sky Center to pilot one of the region’s first community resilience hubs. The hub aims to serve as a gathering point for residents during climate emergencies and offers reliable power, clean air, and other essential resources. 

In addition, CEC has advanced over 80 wildfire resilience projects toward implementation and equipped hundreds of residents to lead climate action in their communities. 

About CEC

CEC was founded in May 1970 in the wake of the devastating 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill, which urged residents to take action on environmental issues. Since its formation, CEC has focused on education, championing new ideas, creating pilot projects, and practicing with the community. 

Over the years, CEC has pioneered several projects and ideas. In 1990, CEC helped pass California’s recycling law, the first in the U.S. 

In 2001, the organization created a Watershed Resource Center at the Arroyo Burro Beach to educate people about the region’s creeks and ocean. 

In 2004, the organization shifted its primary focus to climate change, developing strategies such as carbon neutrality and clean energy adoption. 

CEC continues to build political resolve for climate action at local and regional levels and advocates for ambitious, equitable climate resilience goals.