Proposal to Ban New Onshore Oil and Gas Drilling in Santa Barbara County
- Reports
- 2
- Developments
- 1
- Repetition
- 50%
New informationRepeats or wire copies
What happened
The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted 3–2 on January 2026 to advance an ordinance prohibiting new onshore oil and gas wells in unincorporated areas of the county. This ordinance is the first phase of a broader county effort to eventually phase out onshore oil and gas production. The county is currently considering a proposal to ban new onshore oil and gas wells and prohibit the restart of previously abandoned onshore wells.
Why it matters
Supporters of the ban argue that limiting additional drilling will help reduce pollution and protect communities near oil and gas operations. Opponents counter that such a ban could simply shift the environmental impact, potentially increasing overall greenhouse gas emissions through increased reliance on oil tankers.
From kclu.org
Who's involved
- Santa Barbara CountyCounty in southern California where the ordinance is being considered.
- board of supervisorsBody that oversees the operation of county governments in certain U.S. states.
Who could feel it
Possible knock-on effectsThese are possibilities Brind reasoned out, not predictions, and not advice. Most are not stated in any report.
- Santa Barbara CountySpeculative
The county may face regulatory action regarding its oil and gas production and land use.
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The entities involved
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Santa Barbara County
county in southern California, United States