The World Business Academy and the Clean Coalition have teamed up to provide the Montecito community with a sustainable energy solution during times of crisis. When completed, the Montecito Community Microgrid Initiative (MCMI) will ensure that vital services remain running during emergencies, and serve as a replicable model for other communities looking to transition California […]
Learn All About the Montecito Community Microgrid at a Public Meeting on Nov. 14
One of the most important ongoing projects of the World Business Academy is the Montecito Community Microgrid, an energy system that would deliver local energy daily and power emergency facilities during outages caused by extreme weather events and system failures. A Community Microgrid is a new approach for designing and operating an electric grid based […]
SCE Acknowledges Causation of Thomas Fire: a Prelude to Public Safety Power Shutoffs
On October 30, 2018, Southern California Edison (SCE) issued a press release acknowledging that their equipment started the Thomas Fire in at least one of the two locations identified as flashpoints. This admission is material, as SCE will now be exposed to an undetermined amount of liability from a variety of claims. SCE simultaneously disclosed […]
UPDATE on PCIA CTA: Expect Negative Impact on Community Choice Movement (Sigh!)
Thanks to all our members who sent opposition letters to their California legislators and the acting Public Utility Commissioners earlier this month. For those not familiar with this specific call to action, the letters urged the CPUC not adopt a decision that would dramatically increase costs associated with the Power Charge Indifference Adjustment (PCIA) charge, […]
Watch: Santa Barbara’s Redistricting Future – a Debate on Measures G & H
On October 23rd, the Global Citizen’s Club hosted a vigorous debate on Measures G 2018 and H 2018 – two ideas on how to appoint an Independent Redistricting Commission to redraw Santa Barbara County’s district lines after the 2020 census. This is an important local issue, and we wanted to help our community be better […]
Public Enjoys a Vigorous Debate on Measures G and H
We were gratified by the enthusiastic turnout at our October 23rd Global Citizen Club debate on Santa Barbara County’s competing redistricting Measures G and H. Moderator Rinaldo Brutoco set the tone for why this debate is so important when he opened his introductory remarks by saying, “A panel like this is a basis of our […]
AB 813: Regional Grid Not The Best Path to Fight Climate Change
World Business Academy Opposes Proposed Bill to Create a Multi-State Power Grid In energy, there is only one end game: transitioning our planet away from fossil fuels to a resilient, renewable energy system that reliably provides energy with little to no impact to the environment. How we get there is an entirely different matter, and […]
Powering Paradise Program Helps Local Homeowner Fight Climate Change
When President Trump pulled the United States out of the Paris climate treaty, Fred Hunter was so angry that he took money from his retirement savings and bought a solar system for his small home in Santa Barbara with assistance from the World Business Academy’s Powering Paradise program. The free program offers consultations, contractor referrals, […]
Closing Diablo Canyon: Academy Files with Supreme Court
The World Business Academy asked the California Supreme Court on Monday July 23, to weigh in on its lawsuit to force Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) to study the environmental and human health dangers stemming from continued operation of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant in Avila Beach. The Academy filed a Petition for Review […]
SCE’s Energy RFP Looking More Like a Trap
By Robert Perry, Director of Energy Research Sometimes I hate being right. Back in March, I wrote about my hopes and concerns regarding Southern California Edison’s proposed Request for Proposals (RFP) proceeding, that sought to develop approximately 95 megawatts (MW) of capacity, preferably in Santa Barbara County to help resolve its resiliency issues. On July […]
State Street Retail: Developing a Plan for the Future
On June 28, the World Business Academy’s Global Citizens Club hosted its second panel discussion on reimagining State Street and Downtown Santa Barbara, yielding some very good news: the World Business Academy announced that Amy Cooper, owner of the Plum Goods store on State Street, will head a new Santa Barbara Retail Task Force to help […]
Reinventing State Street: Developing a Plan for the Future
On June 28, the World Business Academy’s Global Citizens Club hosted its second panel discussion on reimagining State Street and Downtown Santa Barbara, yielding some very good news: the World Business Academy announced that Amy Cooper, owner of the Plum Goods store on State Street, will head a new Santa Barbara Retail Task Force to help […]