VENTURA WINS
During another record-breaking, climate-fueled fire season in California, Ventura County took action to reign in emissions. On Sept. 15 the supervisors adopted one of the most health-protective oil well setback laws in the nation, 2500’ feet from schools and 1500’ feet from homes, with a study to increase home setback to 2500’ as well.
The board also banned flaring gas and trucking oil – a source of diesel emissions and a severe road hazard for other drivers. Oil companies must now use renewable energy to the extent feasible to power oil production.
The new plan also includes a building electrification code for all new buildings starting in 2023 which will reduce indoor air pollution, lower costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions … and they created a Climate Emergency Council to develop additional programs for Ventura County.
SANTA BARBARA WINS
Given the hundreds of new oil wells proposed in Cat Canyon, ExxonMobil’s plans to restart offshore oil (shut down since the massive 2015 Refugio spill), and federal attempts to offer up new leases on public lands and in our ocean, we should count it as a major win that none of these have actually moved forward. Some have given up. All have been set back.
The biggest threat currently is Exxon’s oil trucking plan which was delayed by news that Phillips66 was converting a refinery to renewable diesel and wouldn’t take ExxonMobil’s oil, thank you very much. We are waiting for a new hearing date. The federal leases hinge on the outcome of the elections. Trump has said he’ll spare Florida’s ocean, as he needs those voters. California, not so much.
GREEN TRANSPORT
Santa Barbara MTD already committed to 100% electric bus fleet by 2030, just in time to help along a statewide requirement. Now they have joined Santa Barbara County in electrifying their fleet cars as well.
The MTD installed 14 new ChargePoint Level 2 electric vehicle chargers to provide infrastructure for a new fleet of all-electric light duty vehicles consisting of 14 new Chevy Bolts. Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District provided grant funds toward the charger costs from their Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Program.
Here is a video describing the project.
COMMUNITY CHOICE
Checking the Clean Power Alliance’s latest reports, which rolled out last year in over 30 jurisdictions across LA and Ventura Counties, I count almost 800,000 homes and businesses on 50% or 100% renewable energy plans.
Nearly 300,000 of those are using 100% renewable energy. That’s a remarkable acceleration. SB County plans to join a similar program called Central Coast Community Energy (CCCE), next year. I just got appointed to the Advisory Council so I’m taking a close look. While they are behind Ventura in renewable percentages, they have a goal of 100% renewable energy by 2030. It is a testament to how far we’ve come that this now feels slow to me.
Santa Barbara County residents can provide feedback on what kinds of electricity programs and subsidies you would like to see offered when we get community choice in 2021.
PROJECTS PROCEED
This last year I spent more time than ever before supporting renewable energy projects. We supported battery storage projects all over our Chapter, the Strauss Wind project near Lompoc, solar on Santa Barbara parking lots, the Goleta City Hall, and at local schools.
The Goleta School District has a bond measure on the November ballot that will provide funds for facility improvements including renewable projects that will save the district money in the long run. We have endorsed that!
SUMMERLAND BEACH
The State plans to cap two leaking old wells on Summerland Beach from Oct 5-19. This is good news to anyone tired of all the tar and smells on an otherwise lovely beach. It’s not the first capping project there either as leaks were detected back in 1994.
Thank our State Senator Hannah Beth Jackson, termed out this year, for securing money to identify and cap abandoned wells on our beaches -- and for that matter, her entire brilliant career as an effective environmental champion.
NO LEASE PLEASE
Our chapter has signed on to a letter strongly opposing the Bureau of Land Management initiating new oil/gas leases in Kern County starting in December.
“Clearly the scientific, public, and political controversy over ending eight years of protection from oil and gas leasing also requires preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement for this and any other proposed lease sales,” concluded the letter, signed by our executive director, Jon Ullman. The BLM is trying to get away with just a lower level analysis.
Citing “the full force of the climate emergency this summer (heat waves and fire) have been greatly intensified by the warming climate (due to fossil fuel extraction, the largest driver of climate change).”
-- Katie Davis, Los Padres Chapter Chair