On Sept. 24, 2008, the US House of Representatives voted to drop its ban on drilling off the US East and West Coasts. At last report, the Senate was expected to follow days later.

The restrictions against offshore drilling in these regions have been in place for more than a quarter of a century. No activity is guaranteed, but at least a step has been taken to allow access to an estimated 18 billion bbl of oil and 76 Tcf of natural gas. The eastern Gulf of Mexico remains out of bounds until 2022.

High fuel prices and economic uncertainty have generated public support for these developments. On July 14, 2008, President Bush rescinded the White House prohibitions on offshore drilling, but the measure did not supersede Congress’ own ban as part of the Interior Department’s appropriations bill.

Although the issue remained undecided on a national level, many local governments were already taking steps to open the possibility of drilling in restricted offshore areas. In fact, it took place in one community you might not expect – Santa Barbara County, Calif.

For those who don’t remember, Santa Barbara County was home to what is considered to be a catalyst of the US environmental movement in 1969. On Jan. 29 of that year, a platform stationed six miles off the coast of Summerland, Calif., drilled down 3,500 ft (1,068 m) below the sea floor. During a trip to replace a drill bit, the well suffered a major blowout. During the 11 days it took to control the well, oil flowed to the surface, forming an 800-sq-mile (2,072-sq-km) slick. An estimated 35 miles (56 km) of coastline was affected by the spill.

For nearly 40 years, the Santa Barbara spill has motivated opponents to offshore drilling in many parts of the US. Why the change now?

Just two days before the lifting of the presidential ban on offshore drilling, the oil price reached an all-time high of US $147.27. Record prices at the pump and their negative impacts on consumers (constituents, taxpayers) led many politicians on both sides of the fence to come out in support of any measure that could alleviate the rapid rise in fuel costs in the US.

Despite the negative historical examples of offshore drilling, local governments holding a stake along US coastal regions have begun to re-evaluate the potential benefits of offshore oil and gas exploration. Santa Barbara County is an example.

On Aug. 26, 2008, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors passed a vote in favor of offshore drilling. Although the measure was largely symbolic, a 3-2 majority agreed to send a letter to California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who opposes offshore drilling in favor of alternative energy, urging him to reverse his position to allow expanded oil exploration and production off of the county’s coastline.

The board consists of five supervisors who each control a district within the county, containing 80,000 constituents. Supervisor Joni Gray, whose district is in the northeast end of the county, said, “I voted in favor of sending the letter regarding offshore drilling.” Gray said the majority of her constituents are pro-oil. Her vote, she explained, was based on several recent observations: “High gas prices, support of the people I represent, current technological advances in offshore drilling, and the economic need for excess supply over demand.”

Less than 900 bbl of oil have been spilled near Santa Barbara since 1969. In addition, Gray said, “Opening offshore drilling for Santa Barbara County would increase its revenue and give the county government a better opportunity to maintain control over drilling, production, and transportation projects for oil.”

Supervisor Brooks Firestone, who co-wrote the measure of support for offshore drilling, voted against the measure one year ago. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Firestone said, “We didn’t need the revenues. Property values were such that we were paying our own bills. We didn’t need the jobs. Employment was very sound.

But the threat to the tourist industry, if we were going to have sticky beaches – that would be a disaster.” Improved technology and higher prices for oil and transportation fuels were two of the reasons Firestone reevaluated his position in August.

The ban forbids “new” drilling, but there are several producing fields offshore Santa Barbara operating on platforms erected before 1980. Currently, the county receives about $5.5 million annually in oil revenue.

It is unclear what kind of ripple effect will occur from Santa Barbara County’s show of support for offshore drilling. It is ironic that after almost 40 years, one of the first signs of support for lifting the moratorium is emanating from the geographical point at which resistance began.