For a community that defines itself by its beautiful coastline and environmental stewardship, the Refugio oil spill not only closed our beaches and caused over $250 million in cleanup and damage claims, it also caused an identity crisis as we wrestle with the role of fossil fuels in our lives. While it is imperative, of course, that each of us make changes in our own behavior, it has become increasingly clear that what really needs to change is our energy system.
If there are any silver linings in these all-too-frequent industrial energy accidents, it’s that — after 100 years of fossil fuels — a growing number of people are calling for an energy revolution. And we need that chorus, reimagining a world built on more renewable energy such as wind, wave, and solar power.
But, with full respect to visionaries like Elon Musk who claim that “solar energy is the Future,” I want to make the case that we’re already living that future. Solar energy is the Present, the energy revolution is already in motion, and the Central Coast is greatly benefiting from it.