It’s a dream held by many environmentalists: Phasing out all of the state’s fossil fuel production, and shifting to renewable resources. The State Senate has passed a bill by a Santa Barbara legislator intended to come up with a price tag for the taxpayer’s end of cleaning up, and removing facilities.
SB 551 would order the State’s Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources to come up with a plan for determining the cost of decommissioning facilities under state control.
Democratic State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson of Santa Barbara says it’s important we have a good view of the scope of the cost for future planning. She notes that two cleanup projects in Santa Barbara County alone have already cost more than $150 million dollars.
The bill now goes to the State Assembly for consideration.
