AnonymousBy Nadia Abushanab, Advocacy and Events Director for Santa Barbara County Action Network (SBCAN)
I’m grateful to our county Board of Supervisors for rejecting ExxonMobil’s proposal.
This trucking route would have added up to 24,800 oil-filled trucks per year onto a coastal highway and a winding two-lane road. For anyone who has driven this route, it’s easy to imagine a head-on crash with an oil truck.
ExxonMobil has a terrible reputation, locally and globally, for remediating the impacts of their operations. After the infamous 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster, the company battled local residents for 20 years before being forced to issue payments. ExxonMobil’s stubbornness crushed the spirit of their opposition in this drawn-out legal battle that bled fishermen of their profits.
Recently, ExxonMobil locked out 650 union employees from its Beaumont, Texas facility for ten months until they either agreed to a weakened contract or decertified the union. Exxon claimed that the contract changes were necessary to stay financially viable in low margin environments, it then went on to post its highest quarterly profits in seven years.
ExxonMobil violated sanctions against Russia relating to the 2014 invasion of Crimea; ExxonMobil was subsequently fined by the Treasury Department while Vladimir Putin awarded ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson the Russian Order of Friendship. Apart from its role in the Russia/Ukraine conflict, ExxonMobil has known for decades that its activities cause climate change. Instead of mitigating their climate impact, company officials spread misinformation to tend to their public image.
This project would have made no difference on rising gas prices had it been approved. The U.S. exports about 50% of the oil it extracts. The Board of Supervisors has no jurisdiction over where the final product would be sold, so the notion of locally sourced, competitively priced oil is completely false. Also, this project, operating at full capacity, would only have produced 0.06% of the U.S.’s daily oil consumption, which would make no difference to the prices of oil.
Santa Barbara has faced enough damage at the hands of the oil industry. Thank you, Supervisors Hartmann, Williams and Hart, for voting to deny Exxon’s reckless project.
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WATCHER – “For those really fed up with the antics of oil companies, please sell your gas cars, plastics, and synthetic clothes.” – Why? Are you OK with their “antics?” Opposing trucking oil doesn’t mean we oppose oil. Adults are allowed to disagree with something while still supporting it. For example, I disagree with the laws against drug possession, but I still support law enforcement, obey the law and agree with other criminal prosecutions. See how that works?
We NEED new PIPELINE Infrastructure across our country—-IMMEDIATELY!
My V8 would like Exxon to stay, and bring friends.
“The U.S. exports about 50% of the oil it extracts”. Good point to remind everyone that where oil is shipped to from the USA and what price at the pump you pay for it is completely in determined by Big Oil. So if you’re unhappy about those present realities, don’t complain to President Biden, complain to the CEO of Exxon-Mobil. Not that you’ll get a response. By the way, don’t you think that if Exxon-Mobil, the 4th largest oil company IN THE WORLD, wanted to build a new pipeline to replace the pipeline that ruptured near Refugio State Beach due to operator neglect, Exxon Mobil could afford to rebuild it? You bet they could afford it , but cutting corners and playing loose and fast with the environment is what shareholders desire, and doing the right thing by public standards, not so much…..
And the previous president was an angel and didn’t cause any problems internationally or domestically? I’d look in a mirror before calling anyone else a parrot..
BABY – “High gas prices? Putin’s fault.” – You’re saying the recent spike in gas prices have nothing to do with Russia’s invasion?
Under President Biden, the U.S. is actually more energy independent, as energy production is increasing and outpacing consumption, and became a larger net energy exporter in 2021.
Despite Republicans’ alternate facts, Donald Trump was NOT responsible for the trend that led to the U.S. becoming a net energy exporter. The U.S. became the top producer of oil and tural gas before Trump took office. For most of Trump’s term in office, the U.S. consumed more energy than it produced and was reliant on Russian oil. Amazed people unconditionally believed Trump when he opened his mouth
The country needs a diversified energy portfolio to include most, if not all, production sources.
The country (and California in particular) needs a diversified water portfolio to include most, if not all, production sources.
Only then will we be able to live in a cleaner, sustainable world that won’t leave your posterior (no, not your backside) as unwitting participants in a ‘Mad Max’ movie.
Emotional claptrap has no place in a serious discussion of important issues.
You’ve fallen for the carbon industry’s greenwashing – “balanced energy”. Sorry, but CO2 emitting fuels have got to go away, and quickly, if we want the world to remain a pleasant place to live.
X2
Know what Tree?
Most people don’t have the comfort of living in a place that needs A/C or heat.
Your philosophy would kill millions.
You need to open your view of whet is going on.
0731 – Not “balanced energy,” DIVERSIFIED energy until such time as alternatives are developed to fully and reliably replace the CO2 producers. Right now you can’t have enough energy without them. Period.
Wouldn’t a breakthrough in nuclear fusion be nice!
Stating the facts on the history of oil production over the past 6 years will kill people? That’s rich.
You’ve merely substituted a synonym. It’s what the carbon folks want you to believe. We can rapidly wean ourselves from carbon fuels, maybe not painlessly, but at a lot less cost than if we let ourselves be fooled into continuing to give them money to foul our only nest.
Why? Corporate $$$
Got to agree with Stray. As much as we fight over politics, politicians and party — the corporations are the ones in control.
Oh babycakes, please. I’m embarrassed just by reading this.
“the current administration is solely responsible…”
Have you read a history book or the news in past five to ten years?
Nadia: You are simply parroting the talking points of the green lobby. It simple terms, the current administration is solely responsible for the mess we are in domestically and abroad. It seems like your eyes are shut and you are clicking your heels in hopes that we can return to the energy independence we had up until a year ago. Inflation? Putin’s fault. High gas prices? Putin’s fault. US is the laughing stock of the world? 1600 Penn Ave. Open your mind to new ideas, of course, but not until you’ve got at least a viable Plan A, Plan B, and a Plan C.
“The U.S. exports about 50% of the oil it extracts. The Board of Supervisors has no jurisdiction over where the final product would be sold, so the notion of locally sourced, competitively priced oil is completely false.” – this is an excellent point! All those blaming the BOS for the rising oil prices being a direct result of this decision need to read and understand this concept.
Trucking oil is probably the least effective, highest risk method of moving it. The next best method is by rail. And finally, the top of the oil-movement chain is by pipeline. That’s the best way to move oil. For those really fed up with the antics of oil companies, please sell your gas cars, plastics, and synthetic clothes. Wouldn’t want to called hypocrites now, would you?
Too many people competing for too few resources. Unfortunately, our government thinks that is a good thing.
I supported Exxon. I believe when they invested in the county they did everything. They were forced to to be allowed to build 3 platforms and their refinery. I believe the county and state enjoyed the benefits by all the taxes and fees that they paid. Also it created countless jobs. I believe we have to convert to renewable energy and should support that till we can completely rely alternative energy? We are not there so we need to rely on both.
In my eyes if the county feels they cannot support Exxon then maybe the county should consider repaying them for their investment in our county.
Baby cakes. Well said I totally agree. Unfortunately time will tell the damage this administration has done. I for one am having voters remorse. Let’s pray it’s not too far gone and we can somehow get our country back for our kids.
Remember The Gas Wars?
Gas was 19 cents a gallon, down from the normal 2 bits a gallon.
But wages were 1.50 an hour. So it must be inflation……and new laws.
What happened? Government stupidity probably.
What is the price of gas in Venezuela, Iran, Mexico, Russia?
California has lots of gas. From Kern County to San Diego.
The LaBrea Tar Pits. Camarillo oil seapage. It is everywhere.
And down the Central Coast there are grasshoppers pumping it still.
Refineries too are still in Wilmington. But fewer ones now as housing needs room.
When politics enters the discussion, the economics goes goofy.
So enjoy the 5 dollar a gallon price.
It is a political goal to make poor people ride bikes.
@1044 because the corporations control both parties.
The sort of remarkably unintelligent, ignorant, and dishonest comments typical of this source.
This is and always will be a laughably stupid and intellectually dishonest argument.
So you regret having voted for Trump?