October 21: Urge County Supervisors to Phase Out Oil Drilling in Santa Barbara

Climate Policy

Oct 17

Stand up for a clean-energy future — we need your voice to ensure oil drilling has an end date.

Last spring, the County of Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors voted to task staff with developing an Oil Phase Out Ordinance. On Tuesday, October 21, the Board of Supervisors will again vote on specific actions to phase out oil operations in Santa Barbara County. This is the moment to shape a cleaner, healthier future for the California Central Coast, and we need your voice.

By preparing ordinance amendments to prohibit new drilling and phasing out existing wells, Santa Barbara has a defining opportunity to set the standard and lead California toward a climate-safe future for all. Join us in demanding an end to oil drilling and the destruction it inflicts on our health, safety, and environment.

To learn more about the hearing, explore the agenda here and the staff report here. Our agenda item, Consider recommendations regarding the framework, approach and budget to phaseout oil & gas operations, is item #3 on the agenda. There is also a staff report regarding idle and orphan wells, which will be addressed directly before the Oil and Gas Operations Phase Out agenda item. See the Learn More section below for additional background information and resources.

Call to Action

Attend the Board of Supervisors Meeting

Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.

Join us on Tuesday, October 21, as we urge the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors to prohibit new oil projects and phase out existing drilling. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. and breaks at noon — oil and gas operations will be the third and final item on the agenda. It is expected to be heard around 11 a.m., but it may be pushed to after the lunch break. To ensure you don't miss it, monitor the meeting online and head to the hearing room when they begin discussing agenda item #1. The session will take place at the board hearing room on the fourth floor of the County Administration Building, 105 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara.

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.

Can’t make it in person? Provide public comment

Testify Remotely in Santa Maria: Participate in the meeting remotely from the Joseph Centeno Betteravia Government Administration Building Board Hearing Room (511 East Lakeside Parkway, Santa Maria).

Via Email: Email the Board of Supervisors (sbcob@countyofsb.org) by October 20 at 5:00 p.m. with the message to prohibit new oil projects and phase out existing drilling. Be sure to use the following email subject line: October 21 BOS meeting on the Oil Phase Out ordinance.

Over Zoom: If you can’t attend in person, participate in the meeting virtually to provide public comment or listen in. You can register here or access the Zoom link in the October 21 meeting agenda packet, which you can download here.

Talking Points

Share your appreciation and why this matters to you:

Show your appreciation to county staff and elected officials for considering an oil phaseout ordinance 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 prohibiting new drilling and phasing out oil operations. Phasing out oil drilling is crucial to achieving our climate goals and protecting our air, land, and water from the harmful impacts of oil drilling.

Emphasize that:

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 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, etc. Low-income communities and communities of color in Santa Barbara County disproportionately suffer from pollution and health problems linked to oil operations. Ending drilling is a vital step toward environmental justice and 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.
Recent developments with Sable Offshore Oil Company’s plans to pursue offshore oil storage and treatment in federal waters underscore the urgency of local action. While federal waters are beyond county control, Santa Barbara retains clear authority over onshore drilling and can act decisively to protect public health and the environment
Phasing out oil drilling opens the door for sustainable job creation in renewable energy and green technology sectors.
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.

Learn More

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. The human costs are significant as well. 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.

The Central Coast is leading the shift toward a clean energy future. Just this week, the City of Fillmore joined Clean Power Alliance. Following this vote, all eligible cities and counties in Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo now participate in Community Choice energy programs, giving their residents and businesses easier access to 100% clean and renewable electricity 15 to 25 years ahead of state targets.

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. While Sable Offshore Oil Company moves to operate in federal waters beyond local reach, Santa Barbara has the power and responsibility to act where it does have control — by ending onshore oil drilling.

In August 2024, 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, October 21, county staff will present options for the board to consider. CEC and 50+ organizations have joined forces to call for an end to oil drilling ordinance — and have already collected hundreds of sign ons from community members. Stand with us as we advocate for bold climate leadership that prioritizes our people and planet.

read the plan