|
|
|
Act Now to Phase Out Oil Drilling in Santa Barbara County
|
|
|
Speak Out on May 13 to Support Climate Action and Ensure Oil Drilling Has an End Date
|
|
On Tuesday, May 13, the County of Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors will hear a staff presentation on the potential to prohibit new oil drilling and phase out oil operations in Santa Barbara County. This is a critical opportunity to advocate for a cleaner future for the California Central Coast.
By pledging to phase out oil drilling, Santa Barbara has the chance to be a climate leader and demonstrate a clear commitment to a healthier, cleaner county for all. Help us ensure oil drilling in our county has an end date.
To learn more about the hearing, explore the agenda here and the staff report here. Our agenda item, Address Emissions from Oil and Gas Operations, is the eighth and final item on the agenda. See the Learn More section below for additional background information and resources.
|
|
|
Call to Action
Attend the Board of Supervisors Meeting
Tuesday, May 13
|
|
|
|
Join us on Tuesday, May 13, to urge the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors to prohibit new oil projects. Address Emissions from Oil and Gas Operations is the eighth and final item on the agenda. It will likely be heard in the afternoon, after 1:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at the board chambers in Santa Maria (Joseph Centeno Betteravia, Government Administration Building, Board Hearing Room, 511 East Lakeside Parkway, Santa Maria).
Attend the meeting and provide public comment to help prevent further environmental devastation caused by oil drilling in Santa Barbara County. Meeting information is posted here. Public comments are typically limited to three minutes, but for well-attended meetings, may be further limited to one or two minutes.
|
|
|
Testify Remotely in Santa Barbara
|
|
Participate in the meeting remotely from the board chambers in Santa Barbara (County Administration Building, Board Hearing Room, Fourth Floor, 105 East Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara).
|
|
|
Can’t Make It in Person? Provide Public Comment
|
|
Via Email: Email the board of supervisors (sbcob@countyofsb.org) by Monday, May 12 at 5:00 p.m. with the message to end oil drilling. Be sure to use the following email subject line: May 13 BOS meeting on the Prohibit Oil Drilling ordinance.
|
|
Over Zoom: Participate in the meeting virtually to provide public comment or listen in. Access the Zoom link in the May 13 meeting agenda here.
Address Emissions from Oil and Gas Operations is the eighth and final item on the agenda. It will likely be heard in the afternoon, after 1:00 p.m. However, we recommend advocates look at the livestream at 11:00 a.m. in case the meeting is running ahead of schedule. If the board is on item six or seven at 11:00 a.m., it would be best to keep the meeting open in the background in case item eight comes up before the lunch break.
|
|
|
|
Share your appreciation and why this matters to you:
|
|
-
Show your appreciation to county staff and elected officials for considering an ordinance to prohibit oil drilling to safeguard the health of our communities and natural ecosystems.
-
Share in your own words why climate action matters to you, your children, and your community.
|
|
|
Urge the Santa Barbara County Supervisors to:
|
|
- Prepare ordinance amendments by the end of 2025 that prohibit new drilling and phase out oil operations. Adhering to this timeline is crucial to achieving our climate goals and protecting our air, land, and water from the harmful impacts of oil drilling.
|
|
|
|
-
Santa Barbara has experienced several major oil spills in recent history, from the 1969 Union Oil drilling rig blowout to the 2015 Plains All American Pipeline rupture, as well as many onshore oil spills. We have a responsibility to prevent further pollution and habitat destruction and combat long-term damage to our ocean, land, and wildlife caused by oil drilling.
-
As California faces an idle well crisis, Santa Barbara has an opportunity to lead the way in climate action, setting a strong example for other regions to follow. Ending oil extraction by 2030 shows a commitment to a cleaner, more sustainable future.
-
Oil drilling contributes to air pollution and water contamination, which can have detrimental effects on public health, leading to asthma, respiratory issues, heart disease, cancer, and other health conditions. Ending oil extraction will help safeguard the health of our local communities for generations to come.
-
With the signing of AB 3233, local governments have more control over oil and gas industry pollution and emissions compared to other emissions sources. Transitioning away from oil drilling supports efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and fight climate change.
-
One oil operation could erase all of the hard work by county residents to cut carbon emissions and pollution. Ignoring the impacts of oil drilling undermines the progress we’ve made by switching to electric cars and solar and pushes California further from its goal of achieving a carbon-neutral economy by 2045.
-
The County of Santa Barbara already took a significant step forward by adopting the 2030 CAP — a major victory for climate advocates in the region. We urge our elected officials to strengthen this commitment by establishing a clear timeline for phasing out oil drilling and reducing the GHG emissions it generates.
|
|
|
|
For over 50 years, the Community Environmental Council (CEC) has defended and fought for measures that protect our coastlines and communities from harmful fossil fuels. Drilling, transporting, and burning oil contaminates our air, water, and land, threatening the ecosystems we know and love. A recent study by UC Santa Barbara found that phasing out oil and gas operations in Santa Barbara County could prevent an estimated $54-$81 million in mortality-related costs by 2045 and avoid climate damages valued at $21.8 million. With the passage last year of AB 3233, local governments now have clear authority to regulate, limit, and phase out oil and gas operations in their jurisdictions.
Last summer, with encouragement from CEC, the Sierra Club Santa Barbara-Ventura Chapter, the Environmental Defense Center, Climate First: Replacing Oil & Gas (CFROG), and 20+ organizations, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted in favor of passing an oil and gas resolution in addition to a Climate Action Plan (CAP). The board directed staff to return with measurable ways to reduce oil and gas emissions as part of the county’s climate goals.
On Tuesday, May 13, county staff will present options for the board to consider. CEC and 50+ organizations have joined forces to urge an end to oil drilling ordinance — and have already collected hundreds of sign ons from community members. This is your chance to make a difference on climate when it matters most.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Support Critical Work Like This
|
|
Recognized as a 2020 California Nonprofit of the Year and a City of Santa Barbara Climate Hero, CEC is led by CEO Sigrid Wright, 2022 Congressional Woman of the Year. See our most recent impact report to learn how we are serving California’s Central Coast by advancing rapid and equitable solutions to the climate crisis.
|
|
Learn more about how you can invest in CEC’s work to accelerate regional climate solutions at cecsb.org/donate.
|
|
|
|
