A proposed phaseout of oil and gas wells throughout Santa Barbara County has been moved forward, leaving the future of one of the region’s oldest industries in doubt.
The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to proceed with developing a new ordinance that will ban new and operating oil and gas wells in an attempt to phase out onshore production in the region.
The decision came o n a 3-2 vote during the board’s meeting in Santa Barbara.
Supervisors Laura Capps of the Second District, Joan Hartmann of the Third District and Roy Lee of the First District voted to support the motion.
Supervisors Bob Nelson of the Fourth District and Steve Lavagnino of the Fifth District, which notably have most of the county’s oil and gas production facilities, were opposed.
Tuesday’s decision does not outright ban oil and gas operations, but allows county staff to draft an ordinance for consideration.
If it is approved, the phaseout will be split into two parts, with new oil and gas wells being banned first. That would take about six months to implement, according to county staff.
The second phase of the ban would affect wells that are currently operating, which would include a transition period of years, maybe decades.
Phasing out existing operations would require the county to conduct an amortization study, which would allow operators to recoup the full cost of their wells before they are fully shut down.
Alex Tuttle, division manager for the Long-Range Planning Division, said the study could begin in spring 2026, and would take about a year to complete. The county would also have to conduct environmental impact review.
More than 50 speakers gathered at the board meeting to comment on the proposed ban.
Supporters of the ordinance cited environmental concerns, new forms of energy, and declining production as reasons for the county to move away from oil and gas in the county.
Katie Davis of the Sierra Club said transitioning away from oil and gas would let the county help workers find new jobs. She added that oil demand is already declining, and noted there are alternatives to oil-based products like asphalt.
“Planning for that, and seeing that we have (to) transition, seeing how we can transition the labor force, is a better way to do it than just leaving it to chance,” Davis said.
Opponents criticized the plan to phase out oil and gas, saying that it will destroy an industry that supports families. Many of the speakers against the ban said that the oil industry has some of the best-paying jobs for workers in the North County.
Gabriel Vasquez told the board that he has worked in the oil fields his entire life. He said that he owns an electric car, drinks the same water, and wants the best for his family, just like everyone else.
He asked the two sides to work together to find a solution, and said the industry is not a light switch that can just be shut off.
“My kids still have to go to college,” Vasquez said. “Please, I have nowhere else to go. Please make the right decision.”
During comments from the board, Lavagnino was frustrated with the proposed ordinance. He said that the North County only has two industries that allow people to support themselves well after high school: agriculture, and oil and gas.
“I know you say, ‘Well, (…) it’s going to take 20 years to do,’” Lavagnino said. “I wouldn’t want to know that my job was getting eliminated in 15 or 20 years.”
Lavagnino added that he supports the attempt to move toward cleaner energy sources, but noted that many state residents still want to have gas-powered cars.
Hartmann supported the ordinance and said that the oil industry has known since the 1950s about the dangers of climate change. She added that the industry could have led the way to be part of the solution.
Hartmann added that the county has seen the effects of climate change through wildfires and debris flows. Change is hard, she said, but necessary.
Hartmann pointed to new state legislation — AB 3233 — that gives the county more authority to regulate oil and gas in its jurisdiction, and said the county should use it.
“California is now the fourth largest economy in the entire world,” Hartmann said. “And while we may not be a huge oil producer within the state, we still have a lot of standing. We still have a lot of status. And what we do matters and it can be an example to others.”
