Drilling could resume where a 1969 oil spill inspired Earth Day

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Washington Post or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Sable Offshore Corp. plans to restart an oil pipeline in Santa Barbara, California, which ruptured in 2015, spilling over 120,000 gallons of crude oil
• The plan has sparked local outrage, especially in a region historically impacted by oil spills, including the 1969 disaster that inspired Earth Day
• Sable claims the refurbished pipeline meets stringent safety standards, but environmentalists and local officials remain deeply concerned

🔭 The context: Santa Barbara’s environmental legacy stems from its vulnerability to oil spills, which have caused ecological devastation and spurred major environmental laws like the Clean Air Act
• Sable intends to extract 1 million barrels of crude oil monthly, employing 200 people and leveraging refurbished pipelines
• However, past spills have left lasting damage to marine and coastal ecosystems, sparking skepticism about the safety and necessity of restarting operations

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Reopening the pipeline contradicts California’s aggressive climate goals and could significantly increase local greenhouse gas emissions
• The project highlights the tension between economic benefits and environmental sustainability, especially as the U.S. faces pressure to transition away from fossil fuels
• Santa Barbara’s resistance serves as a potential model for climate leadership amidst federal policies promoting fossil fuel expansion

⏭️ What's next: Sable requires final approval from federal and state agencies, but opposition from local activists, environmentalists, and county officials could delay or block the project
• The outcome will test California's commitment to climate goals and its ability to resist federal pro-drilling policies
• A legal and regulatory battle is likely as the debate over the pipeline’s future unfolds

💬 One quote: “If this operation starts up, it would be the largest emitter in the county," - Joan Hartmann, Santa Barbara County Supervisor

📈 One stat: A draft environmental report projects the restarted pipeline could spill oil annually and suffer a major rupture every four years, potentially doubling the volume of the 2015 spill

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