Santa Barbara County Supervisors Vote to Phase Out Oil & Gas Production
SANTA MARIA, Calif. – The oil industry has shaped Santa Barbara county’s history, but it’s not likely to be a big part of it’s future.
County supervisors voted to move away from fossil fuels.
At the end of the day, the Board of Supervisors are adopting resolutions to phase out any remaining oil and gas production projects, and to ban applications for any future projects onshore.
It’s been estimated that a rapid, planned phasing out of oil and gas production can save Santa Barbara county 100 million dollars by the year 2045.
“Do we want to be investing in jobs related to clean economy or ones that in a dwindling oil and gas economy?” says Laura Capps, Santa Barbara County Supervisor.
A report from UCSB says a project to phase out current infrastructure would create jobs, as the lengthy process requires the same skill set as operation.
“People are very attached either trying to transition away from it or trying to make sure that it stays here. So I it’s a very hot topic. And we had a good debate on really the future of this county. And do we want to be investing in jobs related to clean economy or ones that in a dwindling oil and gas economy where there’s really just about 100 jobs in the oil and gas industry now?” says Capps.
County supervisors voted 3-1 in favor of the resolution phasing out oil production on Tuesday.
Supervisor Bob Nelson cast the sole “no” vote.
“Probably the most disappointing day that I’ve ever had at County Board of Supervisors. It was a complete snow job where a county staff member and department worked with environmental nonprofits to actively work on destroying an important industry in our county,” says Supervisor Nelson.
He says his district is composed of a significant number of families who depend on work from the fossil fuel industry, and that they want him to fight for their jobs.
“I see this as really political theater, just like the Sable Pipeline. Actions that have been advocated by those in the environmental nonprofits in our county. You know, they’ve tried to drag the county into lawsuits which have cost us time and money where we had really no say in whether the pipeline starts again. This is the same thing here,” says Nelson.
Board chair Laura Capps says the transition away from outdated fossil fuel technology is fiscally prudent and essential, a step that will protect the well being of generations.
Supervisor Nelson acknowledges a future of clean energy does make sense, but that the fossil fuel industry can be part of the solution, not just seen as the problem.
