Old pipeline restart plan reignites Santa Barbara oil spill fears

A Texas oil company’s plan to resume drilling and reopen a pipeline that spilled 120,000 gallons of crude in 2015 faces fierce opposition from Santa Barbara environmentalists, fearing spills and emissions.

Joshua Partlow reports for The Washington Post.

In short:

• Sable Offshore plans to restart three offshore platforms and a pipeline that caused a massive oil spill in 2015.
• Opponents warn of significant environmental risks, including a predicted spill rate of once per year, while supporters tout local job creation.
• Santa Barbara County passed a goal to cut emissions by 2030, but restarting operations could jeopardize that.

Key quote:

“If this operation starts up, it would be the largest emitter in the county.”

— Joan Hartmann, Santa Barbara County supervisor

Why this matters:

Santa Barbara’s history of oil spills, including the 1969 disaster that helped spark the modern environmental movement, underscores the risks of resuming operations. Many local leaders and residents fear not only a repeat of past ecological damage but also the potential derailment of critical climate goals.