Molly Ayala
Santa Barbara County, California, has four electric power providers. The City of Santa Barbara provides clean energy to its residents and businesses through community partnerships. Santa Barbara Clean Energy is one such provider, offering 100% carbon-free electricity generated from wind, solar, and hydroelectric facilities. The county ranks 4th highest in California for electricity per capita from wind power. Other providers include Central Coast Community Energy, which serves several counties in California and is working towards sourcing all its power from clean, renewable sources by 2030.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Electricity Providers | Santa Barbara Clean Energy, Central Coast Community Energy |
| Energy Sources | Wind, solar, hydroelectric, geothermal |
| Carbon Emissions | 1,090.84 kg of CO2 emissions per resident |
| Energy Loss | 4.86% energy loss from the electricity grid |
| Net Metering | Available to residents with personal solar panels |
| Incentives | Rebates for electric vehicles, charging stations, zero-emission school buses |
| Energy Goals | 100% carbon-free electricity |
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What You'll Learn
Santa Barbara Clean Energy
The energy sources for SBCE are diverse, including California, Washington, British Columbia, and New Mexico. Notably, SBCE is committed to providing carbon-free and renewable electricity to its customers while also supporting the development of new local renewable energy sources. This dual focus on customer service and environmental sustainability is a key aspect of SBCE's mission.
The City of Santa Barbara has no power plants operating within it, and the county has three power generation plants. Despite this, Santa Barbara County ranks 4th highest in the state for electricity per capita produced from wind power. The county has experienced a significant increase in the burning of non-renewable fuels, with a 288.55% rise over the past year. However, it is also moving towards cleaner energy sources, with three out of four electricity suppliers offering net metering to residents with personal solar panels.
SBCE's commitment to renewable energy is further demonstrated by its ranking as the 2827th worst polluting county in the country based on emissions per capita. The county's total emissions from electricity consumption are high, ranking 21st in the state, but it has also seen a 9.98% drop in CO2 emissions per capita over the last year.
Additionally, Santa Barbara has opted into the Central Coast Community Energy (CCCE) program, which serves several other counties in California. CCCE is rapidly transitioning to clean, renewable sources, aiming to achieve this by 2030. CCCE invests in rebates and incentives for projects that promote renewable energy and has allocated substantial funds for electric vehicles, charging stations, and zero-emission school buses.
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Central Coast Community Energy
CCCE is committed to providing clean and renewable energy to its customers, with a goal of sourcing all of its power from renewable sources by 2030. The energy provider currently buys electricity from solar, geothermal, and storage sources, with plans to incorporate wind energy off Morro Bay. CCCE has also invested significantly in rebates and incentives for ratepayers to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles, electric-vehicle charging stations, zero-emission school buses, and agricultural equipment powered by electricity.
In Santa Barbara, CCCE operates as an opt-in program, allowing customers to choose between CCCE and their traditional utility provider. The City of Santa Barbara also offers a solo clean-energy program, providing residents with 100% carbon-free electricity generated from wind, solar, and hydroelectric facilities across the western United States. Santa Barbara Clean Energy, the provider of this program, is committed to developing new local and renewable energy sources to benefit the community and the environment.
CCCE's arrival in Santa Barbara was announced in September 2021, and the energy provider has been actively promoting its services to residents in the unincorporated South County and the cities of Goleta and Carpinteria. CCCE has also held webinars and seminars to educate customers about their programs and the option to opt out. The energy provider has made significant strides towards its goal of sourcing all of its power from clean, renewable sources by 2030, including a partnership with Ormat Technologies for a 30-megawatt geothermal project.
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Electricity sources
Santa Barbara Clean Energy provides 100% carbon-free electricity to Santa Barbara residents. This energy is generated from wind, solar, and hydroelectric facilities across the western United States, including California, Washington, British Columbia, and New Mexico. Santa Barbara Clean Energy is committed to providing renewable and environmentally beneficial energy to its customers.
Santa Barbara County ranks 4th highest in the state for electricity per capita produced from wind power, with a significant 288.55% increase in the use of non-renewable fuels for electricity generation. The county has experienced a positive decrease in CO2 emissions per capita, with a 9.98% drop over the last year.
The City of Santa Barbara offers clean energy through community partnerships, and there is a strong focus on sustainability and resilience. The Central Coast Community Energy (CCCE) provider, serving parts of South Santa Barbara County, aims to transition to clean, renewable sources by 2030. CCCE currently purchases electricity from solar, geothermal, and storage sources, with plans to incorporate wind energy.
Additionally, Santa Barbara County has three power generation plants and offers net metering to residents with personal solar panels. The county has seen investments in electric vehicles, charging stations, and other projects to promote clean energy.
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Carbon emissions
Santa Barbara has a reputation as a climate-conscious community, with the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2035. To achieve this, the city has implemented various initiatives, including the Santa Barbara Clean Energy (SBCE) program, which offers residents a choice between two plans: 100% Green and Green Start. 100% Green provides residents with 100% carbon-free electricity generated from wind, solar, and hydroelectric facilities across the western United States. Green Start offers at least 50% clean energy at standard rates.
SBCE is committed to providing carbon-free and renewable electricity and developing new local renewable energy sources. This reduces the consumption of fossil fuels and helps the city move towards its carbon neutrality goal. The program also offers various incentives for residents, such as higher solar power payments and local electrification perks like induction cooktop kits and reduced BCycle memberships.
According to data from 2019, the largest portion of Santa Barbara's 622,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions came from passenger transportation, accounting for 42% of total emissions. Natural gas contributed 22%, followed by electricity at 18%. To reduce vehicle pollution and traffic, the city encourages the use of electric vehicles and provides incentives for businesses transitioning to EVs. Additionally, the city has implemented an electric bike-sharing program and is working on converting waste into energy at the Tajiguas Landfill through a partnership with the county ReSource Center.
While Santa Barbara has made significant progress in reducing emissions, the rate of reduction needs to increase to meet the 2035 goal. The city's initiatives have already resulted in a substantial jump-start in lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and with the implementation of the 2024 Climate Action Plan, Santa Barbara is expected to achieve further reductions in the coming years.
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Energy loss
Santa Barbara Clean Energy provides carbon-free electricity to Santa Barbara residents. This energy is generated from wind, solar, and hydroelectric facilities across the western United States, including California, Washington, British Columbia, and New Mexico.
Firstly, energy losses occur during the generation process. The efficiency of energy conversion depends on the technology and fuel used. For instance, fossil fuel plants are less efficient than renewable energy sources like wind and solar.
Secondly, transmission and distribution (T&D) losses occur when electricity travels through power lines and grids. The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that T&D losses averaged about 5% of the electricity transmitted and distributed in the United States from 2018 to 2022. These losses occur due to factors such as resistance in power lines, transformer inefficiencies, and theft. Direct use electricity, which does not rely on transmission grids, does not contribute to these T&D losses.
Lastly, energy losses can occur at the consumer end, especially in older or inefficient appliances and machinery. Older appliances may be less energy efficient, losing some energy as heat or other forms during the process. Modern appliances are designed to minimize these losses, with some even feeding back unused energy, though this may not be an option for all consumers.
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Frequently asked questions
Santa Barbara Clean Energy provides 100% carbon-free electricity to Santa Barbara residents.
Santa Barbara Clean Energy generates electricity from wind, solar, and hydroelectric facilities.
The energy sources are located across the western United States, including California, Washington, British Columbia, and New Mexico.
Yes, Central Coast Community Energy (CCCE) is another energy provider in Santa Barbara. CCCE purchases electricity from solar, geothermal, and storage sources and is moving towards buying power only from clean, renewable sources by 2030.
Santa Barbara County ranks 2827th worst polluting county in the country based on emissions per capita, with an average of 983.04 kilograms of CO2 emissions per resident from electricity use. Santa Barbara city emissions average 1,090.84 kilograms of CO2 emissions per resident, ranking as the 1444th worst polluting city in California.
