Santa Barbara County bans new onshore oil and gas wells Play

In a move with direct clean air impacts in Malibu, Santa Barbara County has decided to ban new oil and gas wells in the area just upwind from Malibu. The federal government is moving to increase offshore drilling in the ocean, but this is about starting or restarting oil wells on the central coast on the land.

Reporter Lance Orozco from KCLU was at the meeting in Santa Maria. About 50 people testified at the supervisor's hearing on the issue.

Tony Padilla, a longtime Orcutt resident who works in the oil industry, opposed the ban: "Orcutt was built on oil. It is part of our story and our economy. Our tax revenues pay for the parks, schools, and help with the sports — the very thing that makes our community great. The county has a big financial gap, and taking away local revenue and jobs does not make sense."

Ben Oakley with the Western States Petroleum Association, an oil industry trade group, said: "California is an oil island. We import most of our crude by tanker. Cut Santa Barbara production and those barrels do not disappear. They arrive by ship with more emissions, more spill risk and more pressure on strained ports and refineries."

Ban supporters called it an important step in Santa Barbara's efforts toward a cleaner and more sustainable energy future. Tia Kordell with the Community Environmental Council said: "Time and time again, people express they want clean air, clean water and a livable climate future."

Tara Messing, an attorney with the Environmental Defense Center, said: "Prohibiting new oil drilling will reduce air pollution, protect our drinking water, safeguard our health, and help meet our county's plan to cut GHG pollution."

The issue was a passionate one for Santa Barbara County supervisors. Supervisor Steve Lavagnino and Supervisor Laura Capps got into a tussle over the subject.

Lavagnino: "Just reading from a phone or a computer at public comment that says 'no fossil fuels' — to me indicates the complete disconnect the public has between the petroleum and oil industry and life in the real world. That computer, that phone you're reading from was made from the product that you want to ban." Capps: "What other options do they have?" Lavagnino: "That is my point. It is indispensable." Capps: "So what you're saying is the petroleum industry, we couldn't live without it. But they don't want to live that way." Lavagnino: "But they are living that way." Capps: "But they want a different view. This is reality."

In the end, county supervisors approved the new onshore oil and gas drilling ban on a 3-2 vote.

The oil drilling up the coast is a major source of the air pollution that blows into Malibu. There are more than a thousand active oil wells in Santa Barbara County.