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May 1 — Community Environmental Council (CEC) — Powering a Fossil-Fuel-Free County at Climate Fridays Santa Barbara

by Community Contributor • January 1, 2026 • Comments Off

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Raise your voice for a fossil-fuel-free Santa Barbara.

Join us at May’s Climate Fridays Santa Barbara to hear calls to action on the local oil and gas phase-out and solar efforts.

Friday, May 1, 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.

CEC’s Environmental Hub, 1219 State St.

Santa Barbara County is at a turning point in its energy future. At May’s Climate Fridays Santa Barbara gathering, we’re getting into what’s actually shaping it.

Join the Community Environmental Council (CEC), the Society of Fearless Grandmothers Santa Barbara, and the Santa Barbara Sierra Club tomorrow to hear the latest on local efforts to phase out oil and gas production and expand clean energy solutions that support a healthier, more resilient region.

Michael Chiacos, CEC Senior Policy Advisor, will share updates on the status and next steps for oil and gas phase-out efforts in the County. Juan Lares, Project Director at the Central Coast Climate Justice Network, will provide updates and calls to action around the Santa Barbara solar ordinance.

Climate Fridays is a monthly gathering, hosted on the first Friday of every month and bringing together climate activists, students, community partners, and friends to connect, learn, and take action on local climate solutions. These events are part of our A Year of Active Hope free event series, designed to help the community activate for a more sustainable future.

Other Opportunities

Help Us Plan For an Upcoming Blood Drive

We’re planning a blood drive in partnership with Vitalant and want to gauge interest from our community. If you are interested in donating, please take a moment to fill out this Google Form — this isn’t a commitment, but will help us determine how many donors we can expect. Your participation could help save lives!

Become a Resilience Hub and Help Your Community Prepare for Disasters

The California Central Coast faces growing challenges from extreme heat, wildfire smoke, flooding, and poor air quality. Community resilience hubs — trusted local spaces like schools, libraries, community centers, and churches — can provide aid and resources before, during, and after these events. CEC can help activate your site to:

Provide clean air during smoke events
Act as cooling locations during extreme heat
Distribute food
Serve as an emergency shelter or hub for emergency services
Facilitate disaster preparedness training and neighborhood organizing
Host off-grid charging during power outages or shutdowns

Learn more about Community Resilience Hubs, take our short survey, and use our toolkit to get started today.

Upcoming Events

First Thursday with CEC and the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

Thursday, May 7, 2026

5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

CEC’s Environmental Hub

1219 State St., Santa Barbara

Join the Community Environmental Council (CEC) and the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden for an evening celebrating native plants and local biodiversity. Enjoy a short film, a panel discussion, and guided tours of the new State Street planters, along with light refreshments. As the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden marks its 100th anniversary — celebrating a century as the first U.S. botanic garden dedicated exclusively to native plants — this event will highlight the importance of native plant stewardship and share opportunities to get involved. Come learn, connect with your community, and discover how you can help grow a more resilient, climate-ready California. Learn more and register.

Repair Cafe Santa Barbara

Saturday, May 9, 2026

10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

CEC’s Environmental Hub

1219 State St., Santa Barbara

Join us for Repair Cafe Santa Barbara, a completely free, community-powered event where volunteers help fix broken items instead of sending them to the landfill. Bring up to two items —such as clothing, electronics, bikes, furniture, toys, small appliances, or knives for sharpening —and work alongside skilled fixers to bring them back to life. This is not a drop-off service; you’ll collaborate directly with a volunteer who will assess your item, guide you through the repair process, and share practical skills along the way. Open to the public and designed to empower you to repair your favorite items, this is a hands-on, educational experience rooted in sustainability and community connection. Interested in getting involved? Contact info@repaircafe.org to volunteer your skills, attend future events, or simply help us spread the word! Learn more.

Support Critical Work Like This

Recognized as a 2020 California Nonprofit of the Year and a City of Santa Barbara Climate Hero, CEC is led by CEO Sigrid Wright, 2022 Congressional Woman of the Year. See our most recent impact report to learn how we are serving California’s Central Coast by advancing rapid and equitable solutions to the climate crisis.