Edhat Staff
In a pivotal move for environmental progress, the Santa Barbara County Supervisors have given their narrow endorsement to a substantial Climate Action Plan, poised to set a new environmental benchmark in the county by 2030.
This ambitious initiative aims to slash greenhouse gas emissions by half compared to 2018 levels across unincorporated areas, marking a significant step towards a cleaner, sustainable future.
The 2030 Climate Action Plan unveils a comprehensive strategy to tackle climate change head-on. Central to the plan is the promotion of electric vehicle (EV) use, coupled with the expansion of charging infrastructure, signaling a shift towards greener transportation alternatives. Another revolutionary measure includes mandating new homes and buildings to be all-electric, a move that promises to significantly reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
In addition to transitioning to cleaner energy sources, the plan also focuses on enhancing the county’s natural carbon sinks. A concerted effort to plant more trees and vegetation is expected to play a crucial role in absorbing atmospheric carbon, thereby contributing to the overall reduction of greenhouse gases.
However, the path to environmental stewardship comes with a hefty price tag. Estimated at $338 million, the initiative’s funding incorporates approximately $200 million from existing programs, reflecting the county’s commitment to integrating climate action within its broader developmental goals.
The Board’s decision came through a close 3-2 vote, underlining the financial concerns underscored by the dissenting voices. Critics of the plan voiced apprehensions about its economic implications, a testament to the challenges of balancing fiscal responsibility with environmental urgency.
Notably, the Climate Action Plan stops short of introducing new regulations on pollution emanating from oil and gas facilities. Yet, it leaves the door ajar for such measures to be considered in the future, hinting at the possibility of a more comprehensive approach to emission controls as the plan evolves.
The Santa Barbara County Supervisors’ approval of this Climate Action Plan marks a significant milestone in the region’s environmental journey. By setting ambitious targets and outlining clear steps to achieve them, the county not only addresses the urgent need for climate action but also lays the groundwork for a more sustainable and resilient future.
Bravo!
An understandable frustration with the governmental process, for Lavagnino, it seems:
“Lavagnino expressed his frustration with the plan and said he wasn’t sure whether the county would follow through with it. He voted for the last bill in 2015 but said he would not be supporting the new plan. “They can’t just be goals on papers. I guess that’s where I’m frustrated after all these years, because they do feel like goals on papers,” he said.
Nelson said he also would not vote for the plan but that he is committed to engaging and working with the rest of the board on those issues moving forward.”
https://www.noozhawk.com/santa-barbara-county-supervisors-approve-climate-action-plan-in-split-vote/
High Density Housing will only result in a water crisis …depleting ground water has scientifically been proven to change the Earth’s tilt and impact Climate Change. I disagree with all the high density housing as it causes great problems in Climate Change, pollution, air quality, crime, etc…
New research shows Earth’s tilt influences climate change
https://phys.org/news/2015-12-earth-tilt-climate.html
The standard assumptions about how the variations in the Earth’s orbit influences changes in climate are called Milankovitch cycles. According to these principles, the Earth’s tilt influenced ice sheet formation during the Ice Ages, the slow wobble that occurs on a 23,000-year cycle as the Earth rotates around the sun called precession affects the Tropics and the shape of the Earth’s orbit that occurs on a 100,000-year cycle controls how much energy the Earth receives.
Earth Tilted 31.5 Inches in Less Than 20 Years. We’ve pumped so much groundwater that we’ve nudged the Earth’s spin, says new study
https://phys.org/news/2023-06-weve-groundwater-nudged-earth.html
By pumping water out of the ground and moving it elsewhere, humans have shifted such a large mass of water that the Earth tilted nearly 80 centimeters (31.5 inches) east between 1993 and 2010 alone, according to a new study published in Geophysical Research Letters.
Water’s ability to change the Earth’s rotation was discovered in 2016, and until now, the specific contribution of groundwater to these rotational changes was unexplored. In the new study, researchers modeled the observed changes in the drift of Earth’s rotational pole and the movement of water—first, with only ice sheets and glaciers considered, and then adding in different scenarios of groundwater redistribution.
As La Niña strengthens, forecasters warn of a potential return to drought
https://www.yahoo.com/news/la-ni-strengthens-forecasters-warn-100042167.html
We are headed for another severe drought and the State, BoD and Governor are making matters worse with high density housing. If you truly want to increase available housing enforce the zoning laws, shut down illegal short term vacation rentals operating a commercial business in a residential zoned area. These short term vacation rentals have driven up rentals to be unaffordable and driven up the cost of homes.
And if the BoS are truly concerned about climate change stop bringing in those highly toxic cruise ships which pollute and contribute to climate change and ocean acidification.
Cruise ships utilize Heavy Fuel Oils (HFO)/bunker fuel, which, because of its high sulphur content, results in sulphur dioxide emissions worse than those of equivalent road traffic.The international MARPOL IV-14 agreement for Sulphur Emission Control Areas requires less than 0.10% sulphur in the fuel, “contrasting” with Heavy Fuel Oil. Cruise ships may use 60 percent of the fuel energy for propulsion, and 40 percent for hotel functions, but loads and distribution depend highly on conditions.
As per the U.S. Energy of Information Administration, HFOs are extremely viscous, break down slowly and extremely hard to clean up. HFO’s spills are 50 times more toxic to fish and marine life than medium light crude oil spills. HFO’s produce a higher emission of pollutants like Sulfur and Nitrogen Oxides, and Black Carbon(BC). Black Carbon is the 2nd Largest Contributor to Climate Warming following C02. Inhaling BC particles increases heart and lung disease and premature death.
One large cruise ship (900–1,100 feet) has between 1 and 2 million gallons of fuel. One million gallons of oil equals about 23,810 barrels of oil, 2 million gallons equate to 46, 620 barrels of oil An average large ship consumes 250 tons of fuel per day, according to the College of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Colorado Boulder. That’s more than 80,000 gallons of fuel per day, so to put that in perspective, Ships of this size, by contrast, may use up to 150 tons of fuel per day on average. The engines run 24/7, even while anchored in Santa Barbara or any port.
Dense Cities With Low Emissions Suffer Most From Air Pollution, Study Finds
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-08-29/denser-european-cities-have-higher-air-pollution-heat-island-effect?utm_campaign=bn&utm_medium=distro&utm_source=yahooUS
Europeans in the biggest cities have the smallest carbon footprints. But new research finds that compact urban living can come with health trade-offs.
When it comes to health, these sustainability benefits were undercut by high concentrations of cars and other pollutants: The most compact cities saw more than twice as much traffic and significantly higher concentrations of nitrogen dioxide — an air pollutant released by burning fuel — than low-density cities. Places with little green space saw an accentuated surface heat island effect — the difference in the temperature of the ground inside and outside the city.
The densest cities also recorded 12% more natural-cause deaths per thousand residents each year than the sparsest and greenest ones. While compactness itself doesn’t necessarily increase mortality, previous research linking air pollution, lack of nature and even traffic noise to premature death has found that European cities could save tens of thousands of lives per year by adhering to World Health Organization recommendations. (Notably, the study does not analyze rural areas, which have higher overall mortality ratesthan cities in many regions.)
*Note in SB County, the high density development off Hollister Avenue is going to have the same health hazards,….high density 2000 units, 4000 plus cars, removal of an Oak woodland and Savana, constant noise pollution, air pollution, temperature rise, moisture level down and constant stress on the community ‘s health…the once majestic and peaceful healing views of a protected scenic corridor over looking the mountains all the way down to the City of SB will be replaced with 3 -4 story high monstrous building further stressing the community. The BoS really don’t care and they don’t care that studies show air quality and noise pollution will rise impacting the Communities Health. Vote them out.
Farm Sues County Over Rezoning Glen Annie Golf Club to Build Housing
https://www.noozhawk.com/organic-farm-files-lawsuit-against-santa-barbara-county-over-rezoning-of-glen-annie-golf-club-to-build-housing/
FANTASTIC!!!
Attorneys for Glen Annie Canyon Ranch and Glen Annie Organics filed a suit in Santa Barbara County Superior Court alleging that the county did not adequately review the impacts on the environment and wildlife in the area.
The BOS has failed in their duty to protect prime ag both at the Glen Annie Organic Farm and at San Marcos Growers They have shown bias in the law while protecting Santa Ynez but not San Marcos Growers and Glen Annie . All have Agricultural Heritage for centuries. Their biased is evident as the BoS approved rezoning of Prime Ag at San Marcos to residential but protected Santa Ynez.
LEGAL FIGHT TO PRESERVE AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE IN SANTA YNEZ VALLEY ENDS IN SUCCESS
https://www.environmentaldefensecenter.org/programs_press_type/parent-room/legal-fight-to-preserve-agricultural-heritage-in-santa-ynez-valley-ends-in-success/
To remove food security from organic farming at San Marcos growers, and open space, while increasing noise, air and traffic pollution has deceived voters who elected them. I hope to see this law suit expanded.
Nice point. Where are we drawing the line?? Principles vs revenue. Environment or social issues are for profit or to scare you into less freedom.
“Environment or social issues are for profit or to scare you into less freedom.”
I don’t live in Goleta but I would *never* vote for someone who said this about environmental concerns.
ANON – is EDUBSGTOWN88 running for something in Goleta?
Court jester?
Oh wait, I think I know. Yikes.
Because you love swimming in shit water and breathing shit air. Sure.
Total nonsense. Humans have zero control over climate change, I’ve seen the measurements at stearns wharf for 50 years and there has been zero increase! ZERO! Al gore said Florida underwater by 2015! 😂 it’s all a scam
E SIMMONS – Most of the world’s climate scientists and other experts say you’re WRONG. In fact, not sure any would agree with you at all.
Ignorant comments like this by ES are the equivalent of confusing weather with climate, a favorite tactic of the carbon shills.
All electric houses were tried in the early 60’s with Gold Medallion homes. Was an experiment that was tried and failed. Why isn’t diversity important when talking about energy?
SAIL – because, unlike people of different races, sexes, genders, etc, some energy sources pollute our planet, cause cancer and other debilitating diseases, risk injury or death, etc, by being used.
You seriously asking that question?
Fascinating, exactly how have “all electric houses failed.”
“Energy diversity” is yet another product of the big carbon propaganda machine.
During our next extended electrical outage, your all still welcome at my house when your cold and need a hot meal..
That should be “you’re”, twice. But, we don’t expect erudite commentary from someone espousing propaganda. A single period suffices, also, unless you meant to add an ellipsis.
You didnt have any trouble Understanding what was meant. Pick up your punctuation police bonus check on the way out
Ignorant, gullible, and proud of it. That makes for a charming combination.
Funny that you honestly seem to believe people who oppose the continued and widespread reliance on and use of coal and oil don’t also have bbqs, camp stoves, wood, know how to make a fire, etc.
Uh-huh. You saying you don’t use electricity? You run everything off of gas? I don’t think so.
So when there’s an earthquake and you lose your gas connection what will you do? Probably come knocking on my door because I’ll be the house with the lights on and everything functioning.
Can we allow ourselves to trust Das Williams anymore? The choice of the Goleta City Council, 3CE, clean energy, environmental destruction.Let’s examine Das Williams record. I’m going to state facts starting with the biggest issue I have with the environmental crusader Das Williams. This is a small drop in the bucket of continously self serving public service. I will elaborate more in the future. This is your government people, we need to take it back.
Policy Board Chair for 3CE a Community Choice Aggregator for green Energy which is a public agency accountable to the public.
– 3CE Ends volunteer community advisory council ability to put items on agenda in 2022
– “The focus has been less on the community part of things than profit-making,” says Dennis Osmer for mayor of Watsonville CAC member “It really blurs the line between private industry—a corporation—and a government entity.” 2022 https://www.goodtimes.sc/what-is-central-coast-community-energy/
-This is the beginning of Goleta and Carpinteria in 2019 entering in a troubling relationship with an organization where Das Williams now sits as Chair of the Policy board as of 10/10/23.
-3CE and NextEra (public traded company) Yellow Pine Solar Project near Pahrump on Mojave Desert killing sensitive habitat, displacing 100 Desert Tortoise (30 Died) setting fence deep in soil to keep them out, moving them from threatened to endangered, mowing and Biological soil crusts would be destroyed. Invasive annual weeds would move in on the mowed site. Dust storms caused as well as water table issues due to the massive amounts of water necessary to build hurting residents. Destroy 92,930 Mojave yuccas, many hundreds of years old meaning 1000 years for habitat restoration. Once operational 5 to 15 FT jobs. The historic Old Spanish Trail where the massive build-out of solar panels, new roads and transmission lines will permanently destroy the historic and wild character of the area. The amount of space located on the rooftops and over parking lots provides a more efficient alternative for solar panels, and eliminates the need for costly transmission lines(3 million per mile and unreliable at Rincon in disaster) located 10 miles southeast of Pahrump, will generate $297 million for local economies.The Project provides approximately $23 million* in additional revenue for Clark County, money that can enhance local roads, schools and services.
– This is where Goleta and Carpinteria got no benefit for rooftop solar incentives to lower power bills or economic benefit of installation revenue. When NEM 1 or NEM 2 agreements could’ve been locked in for 20 years. Gained fixed cost benefits, energy resilience, energy security, battery storage projects. 3CE has pushed the “Electrify your Ride” program that promotes consumption not conservation. The city took advantage of a parking lot Project offsetting 90% of daily usage but at no time did 3CE promote panels and battery back up incentives. It was good for the City of Goleta but not for you to benefit. Subsidized bills and payment of late bills on your dime for political gain, cost 120k rooftop solar jobs with these policies, caused solar companies out of business harming homeowners, and offering incentives on heat pump water heaters or heating/AC nobody would want without solar so why offer no panel incentives? Now offer battery systems but not with panels, or if you do you must give up your deal. Do you see something here?? I’m going to elaborate more on this later. Das, the Goleta, and Carpinteria city councils should be held accountable for a horrible partnership that only serves power producers. You lost out. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO TRUST THESE PEOPLE ANY MORE. HOW MANY MISTAKES? IS THAT WHAT YOU CALL “CLEAN” ENERGY? ARE YOUR BILLS ANY CHEAPER? READ ARTICLE THEN LOOK AT WAYS DAS HAS CONTINUALLY FAILED HIS COMMUNITY HE GREW UP IN. PEOPLE ARE USING THE ENVIRONMENT AND CLEAN ENERGY TO GASLIGHT YOU, DENY YOU BENEFIT, AND USE IT FOR POLITICAL CONTROL AND DEVELOPMENT. LOOK AT HIS PAST DEEDS.
-Gail Marshall Recall-Das Rallies transient students voting helping Marshall avoid recall betraying resident voters.
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-nov-02-me-marshall2-story.html
State Assembly-ended redevelopment agencies stifling housing being built. Hurting Goleta where he grew up.
https://www.independent.com/2011/12/29/bye-bye-redevelopment-agencies/
And just today 2/14/20, The Los Angeles Times revealed that a large-scale cannabis operation in Carpinteria owned by Barry Brand that was touted by the County as a model of how well their regulations were working was just raided by the Sheriff and found to have illegal “off-book [black market] marijuana sales associated with the farm,” a small volatile extrication lab, about 20 pounds of illegally stored cannabis and “1,000 pounds of cannabis crude.” Supervisor Das Williams received $8,000 from Brand while he pushed through an ordinance that has allowed unpermitted grows of unlimited size and number with little or no vetting.
We live in a Political Monarchy where five Supervisors function like Czars controlling our $1.1B County budget and apparatus. It’s not about Cannabis! It’s about transparency of process and the restoration of public trust and competence. When you’re next asked to pay privately for something that the County should be doing, it is a testament to the incompetence that our public servants will call “excellence.”
Link:https://www.goodtimes.sc/what-is-central-coast-community-energy/
Ethan Woodill
District 3 Candidate Goleta City Council
805-689-6265
electethanwoodillforgoleta@gmail.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/6290048211010080/?mibextid=NSMWBT
Deep breath…
“And just today 2/14/20, The Los Angeles Times revealed …”
?!?! Better edit your copy and paste campaign messages. Also, voters don’t tend to read such long and disorganized pieces.
I have been saying this about 3CE since the beginning. Now the operations board would like to eliminate 8 local government seats on the Policy Board dropping it down from 19 to 11 forcing the smallest jurisdictions (that already share a seat ) to be divided further. This means Goleta would only have a voice for two years out of every 8. Das Williams conned the county, Goleta and Carpinteria with this farce. The most recent comparison of where they get their energy compared to SCE is a joke. Mainly because we all get it from the same place. My energy isn’t dirty because I opted out of 3CE. SCE has 37% renewable to 3CEs 30%. 69% of 3CEs energy comes from “ unknown” sources. The small print says those sources may be renewable. Such a scam.
I think people don’t understand or care when they are being grifted and stolen from by a public institution. While we trash desert ecosystems. I have a severe distaste for lies. Your power never gets cheaper, there are risks to general fund and possibly city employee pensions. This public, not for profit, company holds large sums of cash while silencing any ability for the public to check it. Look at the power rates. This is fraud. Public is the victim, and add environmental terrorism to it. See that’s the problem, the environment, income inequality, people of color, gender…they’re only their issues to use, but don’t point out something wrong. They don’t answer to us. 69.4% of power from unspecified sources.
I would suggest thorazine, but that’s probably been tried.
Hunga Tonga anyone?
Solar Flares?
Cloud seeding?
Hmm, could be my suv causing the volcanic eruptions and solar flares.
Or perhaps its Mother Nature combined with meddling governments purposefully messing with the weather.
Just saying Earth is a living planet that we do not fully comprehend.
Just as our 21st century medicine cannot cure cancer, we do not have the answers to everything. To most things actually.
But we do know going Green is not green at all. China who manufacturers most of our green items uses fracking, burning coal, burning rubber to make the items we enjoy here.
Fossil fuels are still the primary source used to charge EVs. When do you charge your car, only during windy, sunny days right? Wrong, Most plug them in at night when we use coal for energy.
And why is all our green stuff made in a foreign country with zero regulations for pollutions and mining? Because you need the pollution to create green things and no o e here wants to know the uncomfortable truth.
Just saying if you really want to save the planet, walk or ride a bike. That EV takes 90,000 miles to break even on the CO2 emissions.
Try not buying things in plastic. Plastics are dirty to make.
Try wearing the same clothes for years, not months. Clothes are a large contributor to green house gases and filling up land fills.
https://theconversation.com/tongas-volcanic-eruption-could-cause-unusual-weather-for-the-rest-of-the-decade-new-study-shows-231074
https://www.weather.gov/safety/space
https://www.countyofsb.org/2548/Cloud-Seeding-Precipitation-Enhancement
Oh, what – no one responded to that one? Perhaps they’ll come around at some point claiming that you’re a “liar”. Wait for it….
You don’t understand much about the world around you, and how decisions are made based on evidence, do you?
Something’s Poisoning America’s Farms. Scientists Fear ‘Forever’ Chemicals.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/something-poisoning-america-farms-scientists-145057868.html
For decades, farmers across America have been encouraged by the federal government to spread municipal sewage on millions of acres of farmland as fertilizer. It was rich in nutrients, and it helped keep the sludge out of landfills.
But a growing body of research shows that this black sludge, made from the sewage that flows from homes and factories, can contain heavy concentrations of chemicals thought to increase the risk of certain types of cancer and to cause birth defects and developmental delays in children.
In Texas, several ranchers blamed the chemicals for the deaths of cattle, horses and catfish on their properties after sewage sludge was used as fertilizer on neighboring farmland. Levels of one PFAS chemical in surface water exceeded 1,300 parts per trillion, they say in a lawsuit filed this year against Synagro, the company that supplied the fertilizer. While not directly comparable, the EPA’s drinking-water standard for two PFAS chemicals is 4 parts per trillion.
At the center of the crisis is the EPA, which for decades has encouraged the use of sewage as fertilizer. The agency regulates pathogens and heavy metals in sewage fertilizer, but not PFAS, even as evidence has mounted of their health risks and of their presence in sewage.
The EPA is currently studying the risks posed by PFAS in sludge fertilizer (which the industry calls biosolids) to determine if new rules are necessary.
The agency continues to promote its use on cropland, though elsewhere it has started to take action. In April, it ordered utilities to slash PFAS levels in drinking water to near zero and designated two types of the chemical as hazardous substances that must be cleaned up by polluters. The agency now says there is no safe level of PFAS for humans.
EPA’s own researchers have found elevated levels in sewage sludge. And in the agency’s most recent survey of biosolids, PFAS were almost universal. A 2018 report by the EPA inspector accused the agency of failing to properly regulate biosolids, saying it had “reduced staff and resources in the biosolids program over time.”
EPA’s own researchers have found elevated levels in sewage sludge. And in the agency’s most recent survey of biosolids, PFAS were almost universal. A 2018 report by the EPA inspector accused the agency of failing to properly regulate biosolids, saying it had “reduced staff and resources in the biosolids program over time.”
Unless tested, this also will have the same results…it’s actually quite disgusting to think drinking water is converted from toilet water….no wonder people get sick
From toilet to tap: Getting a taste for drinking recycled waste water
https://www.cnn.com/2014/05/01/world/from-toilet-to-tap-water/index.html
Does Goleta Sanitary District test reclaimed water for PFAS? …it is spread everywhere… Are biosolids tested for PFAS??? PROBABLY NOT because EPA does not require testing for PFAS in biosolids….
Trump administration rule dramatically deregulates wetlands, streams and drinking water, machine learning study finds
https://phys.org/news/2024-01-white-house-deregulates-wetlands-streams.html
After this study’s data, the 2023 Biden White House rule expanded Clean Water Act jurisdiction and the Supreme Court’s 2023 Sackett decision then contracted it.
Even the Supreme Court is at Fault…
Hi Sun, Goleta Sanitary District here. Please read this response to the NY Times article you liberally quoted. It correctly points the finger where it belongs, at the companies that use these chemicals in the manufacturing of products we (almost) all use, including non-stick pans, fire fighting equipment, dental floss, make-up, waterproof clothing, etc. We humans need to hold the chemical producers responsible for this. Wastewater treatment plants are passive receivers. And we do not “spread biosolids everywhere”. The wastewater industry is testing for PFAs.
https://www.biocycle.net/connections-facts-versus-fear-mongering/
Thank you.
Hi GSD, I did read your link, and yes I totally agree chemical companies should be held accountable for the high concentration of PFAS as well as the Governing bodies that allow these toxic chemicals to be approved for. use. However even passive receivers like GSD , should realize distributing biosolids contaminated with PFAS to farms for which people consume the crops grown, is also adding to the problem. We cannot just state that because PFAS is everywhere adding more through passive distribution is fine or helping. . Additionally, I did not state biosolids were spread everywhere, though it would be great for GSD to identify where these biosolids are spread … Are they in County landscaping , County farms , County Forests, etc… I questioned the waste water( reclaimed water) identified by the pink irrigation boxes throughout the County, that irrigate landscaping most everywhere , example shoreline park, court house, and various parks etc..,Is this reclaimed water contaminated with PFAS ? I understand the water conservation reason for using reclaimed water but at the same time is it helping to spread PFAS? Also what are the health impacts from continued use and spreading, are we just making society worse off?
Constructive criticism helps to solve serous environmental problems..
Additionally, Graphene Filters have a sustainable ability to remove PFAS and Contaminants from biowaste, wastewater and drinking water. Graphene’s hydrophobic nature helps in attracting and trapping these substances.
Serious environmental problems
THANKY YOU GSD for jumping in to combat misinformation. It’s so important these days that continuous lies and those spreading said lies are fact-checked.
@Sbsurferlife, There is nothing worse than scientific facts made out to be lies, you spin and propose conspiracy theories. The fact is PFAS are in waste waters and biosolids and yes the source and accountability is the chemical companies and governing bodies which have approved these chemicals for use, , BUT passive receivers that distribute biosolids contaminated with PFAS to farms, is scientifically and factually not helping stop the spread. You can spin it as lies but the reality is that biosolids ARE contaminated with PFAS and ending up at farms growing crops that people consume. Whether waste facilities move to use graphene filters to trap PFAS is the way forward. But please don’t spin scientific facts as lies