Climate Strike Highlights Opposition to Restarting ExxonMobil Offshore Oil Platforms Off Santa Barbara

Seven offshore drilling platforms have been shut down since the 2015 failure of Plains All American Pipeline’s coastal oil pipeline. On the anniversary of the resulting Refugio Oil Spill in May 2019, the Center calculated that production from those platforms could have added 27 million metric tons of carbon dioxide pollution to the atmosphere. That’s the equivalent of operating two coal-fired power plants during that period, or burning almost 30 billion pounds of coal.

While four of the oil platforms are being decommissioned, ExxonMobil has applied to restart its three platforms and transport the oil by tanker truck along California highways. Plains has also applied to build a new coastal oil pipeline to serve those platforms. Both projects are now undergoing environmental review in Santa Barbara County and could be voted on sometime next year.

“The climate crisis requires urgent action, not a revival of dirty and dangerous offshore drilling in California,” said Stephanie Prufer, an oceans organizer at the Center. “Young people around the world are demanding we phase out fossil fuels now. Ending drilling off the Santa Barbara coast is critical to ending this threat to the planet.”

What: The Santa Barbara Climate Strike begins with tabling and art-making in De La Guerra Plaza, followed by a march to Pershing Park for a rally and speakers.

When: Friday, Sept. 27, 11:30 a.m. March at noon, rally at 1:30 p.m.

Where: De La Guerra Plaza, 15 E. De La Guerra Street, Santa Barbara. Pershing Park, 100 Castillo Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93103

Who: Participants include 350 Santa Barbara, Community Environmental Council, Democratic Service Club, Santa Barbara Sierra Club, Sunrise Movement Santa Barbara, Mercury Press International, Center for Biological Diversity, Climate Mobilization, Earth Diaper, Environmental Defense Center, Food & Water Action, Indivisible Santa Barbara, League of Women Voters Santa Barbara, Los Padres ForestWatch, Santa Barbara Channelkeeper, Santa Barbara Standing Rock Coalition, Santa Barbara Urban Creeks Council, Santa Barbara Young Democrats and Women's March Santa Barbara.

Contact and more information for Santa Barbara Climate Strike: Brent Goodlet, ClimateStrikeSB [at] gmail.com, http://www.ClimateStrikeSB.org


The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.6 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.


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