By Jon Ullman
Led by visionaries and environmental activists like you, the Santa Barbara-Ventura Sierra Club Chapter has been at the forefront of local progress for decades. See below what we’ve accomplished this year alone. All the work we do together is vitally important, and your support makes it possible. Keep up to date with actions and information and you may also donate online.
With you by our side, our chapter works every day toward achieving a livable planet. We focus on protecting wildlife and wild places; building safe, healthy and equitable communities—all to ensure that America’s democracy works for everyone. With the help of members, volunteers, and potential donors like you, we continue to prove that we’re up to the challenge. Our local track record speaks for itself, and it comes from our unique ability to plug in volunteers from all walks of life into our people-centered campaigns. We consistently beat back industries with far deeper pockets because we know how to organize and leverage our voices, and we work closely with other organizations.
Take a look at what we accomplished this year:
~ Defeated Exxon: Sierra Club and partners intervened to defend SB County from an Exxon lawsuit trying to revive its plan to restart the aging offshore oil plat- forms and truck oil on the 101 and attempts to re-start the corroded pipeline that caused a massive oil spill in 2015. SB Supervisor Capps said that she had never received so many comment letters before.
~ Community Choice Energy: Sierra Club is on the forefront of advocating for strong local renewable energy goals and adoption of community choice to achieve them. Now 32 communities in Ventura and Los Angeles are part of the Clean Power Alliance; Santa Barbara is offering city residents 100% clean energy and solar discounts through their program; and Central Coast Community Energy, covering Santa Barbara and four other counties, gave out millions of dollars last year in electrification rebates and incentives. Beyond procuring wind and solar, CCCE is evaluating geothermal and storage technologies such as a compressed-air facility. Did you know the Santa Barbara Courthouse uses geothermal energy for energy use?
~ We showed up repeatedly, participating in statewide and national efforts to demand an end to dependence on fossil fuels. We led free hikes, and we showed up at Earth Day and Drive Electric events, at World Ocean Day, and City Council and Supervisor meetings. As an environmental activist, you understand the factual threat we face. Your help is urgently needed now. https://www.sierraclub.org/santa-barbara-ventura/ways-to-give
~ What’s next? In 2024, with your support, we have an opportunity to turn the tide on fossil fuels using intense pushback and making it a pivotal year to ensure our region is the solution to the climate crisis – not the problem!
~ Advance 100% renewable energy: State incentives and the federal Inflation Reduction Act provide momentum as we advance all-electric building codes, low carbon materials, solar panels, water efficiency codes, electric vehicle adoption, making the Central Coast a leader in the clean energy economy.
~ Preserve and enjoy our region’s stunning natural beauty and wilderness: Keep our trails open, accessible, and safe for all–from protecting access to Montecito’s popular Hot Springs trail to working with partners to ensure the protection of Ormond Beach to designating new wilderness areas, the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary and more.
Your partnership is a cornerstone of our important work. Please support our work.