Current Projects
Our Work
CEC builds on-the-ground momentum to reverse the threat of the climate crisis. We transform the systems that fuel it. We safeguard the community from its impacts. We lead, we partner, we act. And every day, we move people to create a more resilient California Central Coast.
REVERSE the trajectory of climate change by propelling a rapid, equitable transition to 100% renewable electricity, electric vehicles, and decarbonized buildings.
REPAIR the disrupted carbon cycle by accelerating climate-smart agriculture practices that draw down excess carbon from the atmosphere.
PROTECT vulnerable populations from extreme weather and other climate impacts by deploying bold, community-led solutions rooted in climate justice.
EVs for Everyone / EVs para Todos
Electric vehicles cut our collective carbon emissions and make our air cleaner, but the upfront cost and the uncertainties around charging can make that transition feel out of reach. To make electric vehicles affordable and accessible for all, CEC helps residents navigate EV purchases and leases, understand their charging options, and obtain rebates and incentives.
State and local rebates for electric home upgrades, e-bikes, and other clean technologies are often available for a limited time and can be difficult to navigate. CEC helps residents take advantage of these opportunities by sharing available incentives, answering questions, and providing application support before funding runs out.
Convenient, reliable electric vehicle charging infrastructure is essential to making EVs the new normal. CEC helps residents, property owners, businesses, and local governments access incentives and expand charging infrastructure.
Heavy-duty trucks, freight, rail, and ports are among the largest sources of transportation emissions and often have the greatest impact on historically underserved communities. CEC convenes Electric Ride 805, a regional coalition working to advance clean mobility infrastructure and policy while securing investments that accelerate equitable transportation electrification.
Solar Access for Affordable Housing
Many residents of affordable multifamily housing face high energy costs while having limited access to the benefits of solar energy. As a service provider for California's Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing (SOMAH) Program, CEC helps affordable housing owners and residents access funding and technical assistance for clean, cost-saving solar energy systems.
Single-use plastics contaminate our oceans and waterways, threaten wildlife, contribute to climate change, and place unnecessary burdens on communities. CEC advances policies, partnerships, and community education that reduce plastic waste, expand reuse, and encourage waste diversion.
Adopting climate-smart agriculture often requires funding, technical expertise, and trusted guidance that can be difficult to access. CEC’s Central Coast AgLink connects farmers, ranchers, and land stewards with funding opportunities and regional partners while providing support to help implement conservation practices and build resilient operations.
Pollinator Habitat Restoration
Healthy pollinator habitat supports biodiversity, improves soil health, conserves water, and strengthens the long-term resilience of farms and ranches. CEC helps growers establish pollinator habitat on their land with funding, technical assistance, and planning support.
Growing native, climate-adaptive crops like Western Blue Elderberry can strengthen biodiversity, sequester carbon, encourage cultural practices, and build long-term resilience. Yet growers face significant barriers to adopting a new crop, from limited research to high upfront costs and operational risk. CEC works with farmers, researchers, Tribal partners, and industry leaders to expand the Western Blue Elderberry production, connecting growers to funding while helping build the markets and partnerships needed to establish this native crop.
Climate-Smart Agriculture Demonstration Projects
Seeing conservation practices in action helps producers evaluate new approaches and reduce the risks of adopting them. CEC develops demonstration projects that showcase practices such as compost application, prescribed grazing, hedgerows, and other climate-smart strategies. These projects also create opportunities for farmers, ranchers, researchers, and agricultural businesses to learn from one another.
Regional Climate-Smart Agriculture Leadership
Effective public policy and programs that work for growers are essential to expanding climate-smart agriculture. CEC convenes land stewardship partnerships, represents the needs of farmers and ranchers, and helps shape regional and statewide programs and policies that support working lands.
Communities need knowledgeable, connected leaders who can advance climate action, resilience, and climate justice. Through the Climate Stewards certification course and youth workshops, CEC equips community members with the knowledge and advocacy skills to lead local climate action while building networks for continued engagement.
Addressing the climate crisis requires spaces where people, organizations, and ideas can come together to spark collaboration and action. CEC's Environmental Hub serves as a civic commons where the community gathers through free public events, collaborative programming, and shared non-profit space.
Communities experiencing disproportionate climate impacts should shape the solutions that affect their future. In Guadalupe and Lompoc, CEC works alongside residents and local partners to plan and implement community-centered projects that improve resilience to extreme heat, wildfire, water challenges, food insecurity, and poor air quality.
Rural communities face unique climate challenges that require locally driven solutions. CEC partners with community members, organizations, and public agencies to identify priorities, secure funding, and implement projects in Cuyama Valley. Projects improve local resilience by providing food access, water infrastructure, home energy upgrades, and walking and biking paths.
Central Coast Community Resilience Hubs Accelerator
Communities need trusted places that can support residents before, during, and after disasters, especially as climate change impacts worsen. CEC helps communities establish resilience hubs that provide renewable electricity, resources, and programming to prepare for and protect residents from disasters. CEC incubates hubs alongside organizations and local governments by identifying locations, providing initial funding, and building local capacity.
Wildfire Resilience Collaborative
Reducing wildfire risk requires coordinated action across landscapes, agencies, and communities. CEC advances planning and secures funding for high-priority wildfire resilience projects alongside local nonprofits and governments.
Extreme heat is one of the fastest-growing climate threats and disproportionately affects vulnerable communities. CEC partners with Ventura County and community organizations to support extreme heat education and develop strategies that reduce heat-related health risks.
Statewide Resilience Leadership
Building climate resilience requires coordinated leadership that connects local experience with regional and statewide action. CEC advances climate resilience programs and investments across California through network leadership and policy advocacy.
