A couple months back, the Independent interviewed noted local solar historian John Perlin , and John "popped the bubble" about Santa Barbara's leadership in the environmental movement. Yes the book Silent Spring brought awareness to the world after being published in 1962, some seven years ahead of the Santa Barbara Oil Spill and Robert Sollen's masterful exposes of those events off our shore.
Even with Rachel Carson's book being read during those seven years, it was here that a great deal of energy went forward in actual response to the environmental disasters off our coast. Not least of this was through the Community Environmental Council (CEC) and its affiliations.
During Robert Sollen's memorial service, Lawrence Thompson, an architect and energy conservation advocate, gave a eulogy that included words about his work statewide in creating one of the world's first building energy conservation programs, now known as California State Title 24. The leadership of news reporter Robert Sollen was pivotal in this and other programs coming from Santa Barbara's CEC, as he promoted CEC's growth and participation.