Fossil fuels have played a pivotal role in the evolution of modern society – but are also the root cause of many of the most dire problems we face. Without the revolutionary development of technologies that run on fossil fuels, we would very likely still be living in an agricultural economy, with none of the benefits that we enjoy today in terms of transportation, medical advancements, sanitation, entertainment, and other improvements to our lifestyle.

But a century of burning fossil fuels has taken its toll, and we can no longer rely on the energy found in oil, coal and gas to meet our needs. As with all technological advancements, if we are to enjoy their benefits we must also take responsibility for their use. The last decade has provided us with ample information that continued reliance on fossil fuels has very serious implications for our health, our economy, our national security, and the health of the natural systems on which we rely.

It’s not all doom and gloom, however: in addition to the ecological and environmental benefits, our detailed economic analysis finds a significant economic benefit in switching to renewable energy in our county. Our consultants project that each person will save over $3,000 per year by 2030 under our “fossil free” scenario. This is equivalent to an annual $1.52 billion savings for our county – a substantial savings by any measure.

Although more and more people are becoming aware of the perils of continued reliance on fossil fuels, it is important that we start by clearly defining the problems we face before moving toward the solutions.

This is a comprehensive blueprint for how Santa Barbara County can become "Fossil Free by 2033."

Click below to download the Preface, "What's Wrong with Fossil Fuels?"

Click here to view the entire blueprint (8 chapters)