The leaf-blower wars of the late '90s led to the exclusive use of electric-powered blowers in the City of Santa Barbara. It was a small but vehement battle over the irritants gas-powered blowers produced, both noise and smog related.
Now, mostly for pollution reasons, the county is offering grants of up to $7,000 to electrify landscaping equipment for businesses, schools, agencies, or anyone but a private homeowner who does large-scale gardening. The county is joined by a larger, regional effort to electrify farm equipment as well.
As of January 2021, the part of northern Santa Barbara County currently served by Pacific Gas & Electric will automatically switch over to the newly renamed Central Coast Community Energy (3CE), formerly known as Monterey Bay Community Power . The five-county electricity provider pulls from and invests in renewable energy sources like solar and geothermal, and it's supporting a wind project off Morro Bay. South County areas served by SoCal Edison will switch in October 2021 to give Edison time to transfer its billing.