Santa Barbara County Joins Regional Power Play For Solar & Storage

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) - The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors recently voted to halt oil production, and immediately backed that up by clearing the path for more clean energy projects.

This makes Santa Barbara the fifth Central Coast county now united with the state in leading the way toward a clean energy future.

Approving its annual budget, public agency Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) has established a new Department of Energy Solutions.

This new department is tasked with expanding 3CE’s capacity to directly own and develop local energy projects such as EV charging infrastructure, distributed generation, and battery storage systems.

Officials Note the agency saved 15% of their budget last fiscal year due to lower energy costs thanks to clean energy projects, enabling the department to form.

Additionally, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors has passed an ordinance creating a countywide permitting pathway for utility-scale solar and battery storage projects in unincorporated areas of the county.

3CE is currently constructing its first public charging station, which will open later this year in front of the Santa Maria Library.

The agency is also advancing development of a permanent headquarters in Monterey, which will expand incentives for building and vehicle electrification. 

Plus, it seeks to establish a Virtual Power Plant Program to manage customer demand during peak hours.

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