Das Williams has been hired as senior advisor for policy and legislative affairs for Central Coast Community Energy.

“The climate work that I have done in the legislature, and as supervisor, I think is the most substantive for our community in the long run,” Williams told Noozhawk. “It is also something that my mind adheres to. I wanted to keep on making a difference.”

Williams served for 21 consecutive years in elected office. He was first elected to the Santa Barbara City Council 2003 and was then elected to the California State Assembly in 2010. He served six years there and then was elected to the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, where he served eight years in office representing the First District. He lost his re-election bid in March and left office this month when Roy Lee took over the seat.

Central Coast Community Energy is a San Luis Obispo-based public utility that provides energy to dozens of jurisdictions throughout the state, including Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, and cities such as Goleta, Buellton and Solvang.

More than 11 million Californians are served by 24 community choice energy agencies. Customers are still served by their utility companies (PG&E or Southern California Edison), but 3CE manages where and how energy is generated, with an emphasis on renewable sources.

Williams’ first day on the job was Monday. He made a presentation to the Rotary Club of Carpinteria.

His job will entail speaking to the California Public Utilities Commission, the state legislature, and other community choice energy aggregators. He will work mostly remotely, he said.

“Our mission isn’t just to provide communities with reliable and affordable energy, but have a greater level of carbon reduction than the other choices,” Williams said.