Locally, we can implement climate-action plans our county and city governments have adopted in response to the climate crisis, and to direction from our state, which is a leader on this issue.

For example, Santa Barbara County’s Energy and Climate Action Plan relies on formation of an entity to implement community choice energy (CCE). This will allow local governments in the county — and likely including local governments in Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties — to form a new entity that can purchase and sell electricity to customers.

A CCE entity would be able to purchase energy of its choice, especially from renewable energy sources. It could also incentivize businesses and residents to install solar and other renewable-energy systems and supply excess power to the grid. Existing CCEs have also reduced customers’ bills.

A CCE would thwart utility companies’ attempts to take us backward on generating our own energy. Utility companies in California are trying to reduce the incentives consumers have to put solar panels on their roofs and provide energy to their neighbors. They are asking the Public Utilities Corporation to approve new fees and lower the reimbursement rate for energy added to the grid, among other changes.

CEC says the closest thing to a silver bullet is community choice energy. Other key strategies in the CEC plan focus on our local-built environment and transportation, such as improvements to energy efficiency of buildings and designing of our cities to reduce the distances traveled to work and essential services.

The transportation sector is responsible for a large part of our energy use. We can support policies to make transportation more efficient. We can drive more efficient cars, ride bikes or use more public transportation. There are many other ways to wean ourselves off of fossil fuels. Check out CEC’s well-researched proposals at www.cecsb.org/resources/.