The quest to cap orphaned oil wells off California’s coast
On a recent summer day, the air at Summerland Beach was thick with the smell of oil. A large oil sheen floated on the water and lapped up on the shore.…
Prop 67 in 60 seconds: The plastic bag ban
Proposition 67 is a veto on the plastic bag ban. From the ballot summary: A “Yes” vote approves, and a “No” vote rejects, a statute that prohibits grocery and other stores…
Supply chain breaks down at Patagonia
What happened when Patagonia discovered some suppliers were mistreating animals, while others were abusing workers.
Filmmaker Ken Burns on 100 years of the National Park Service
The National Park Service is now 100 years old. On August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the Organic Act, formally establishing the NPS within the Department of the Interior. Now, the agency manages…
How to watch the Perseid meteor shower in Santa Barbara
Look to the sky Thursday and Friday night, and you may see quite a show. The Perseid meteor shower is one of the most anticipated annual celestial events worldwide, and this…
New doc explores what it takes to farm, fish, graze sustainably
A new documentary made by Santa Barbara filmmaker Chris Malloy examines the role food will play in our future. Unbroken Ground follows growers, ranchers and fishermen as they try to find a balance…
Titanic discoverer sets sail in Santa Barbara Channel
A famous ocean explorer (and UCSB alum) is out on the Santa Barbara Channel making new discoveries. Robert Ballard is best known for discovering the RMS Titanic in 1985. Now,…
Diablo Canyon goes from nuclear to renewable
An agreement between PG&E and environmental and labor organizations seeks to replace the Diablo Canyon nuclear reactors with greenhouse gas-free renewable energy and storage resources. California’s last nuclear power plant is set to shut…
Santa Barbara photographer tracks the Scherpa Fire
More than 1,200 firefighters and first responders continue to battle a growing wildfire west of Santa Barbara today. The Scherpa Fire, as it’s called, is currently 5,800 acres and 20% contained.…
The drought reveals hidden history at the bottom of Lake Casitas
After five years of drought, Lake Casitas, a main water source for cities like Ventura and Ojai, has dropped to its lowest point since it was filled in the 1960s.…
With the Santa Barbara Food Action Plan complete, what’s the action?
After two years of research and countless volunteer hours, the Santa Barbara Food Action Plan is now complete. Headed up by the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, the plan strives…
MAP: Where oil runs in Santa Barbara
Have you ever wondered what oil pipelines run through Santa Barbara County? If so, then you might like this handy map: Here’s the breakdown: The county’s longest line, Plains All-American…
Oil companies get green light to frack offshore of Santa Barbara, is it safe?
Photo by Linda Krop Oil companies can now frack off the coast of California once again. The Obama administration made this announcement last week after a federal report found the…
KCRW wants to answer your questions about oil
What do you wonder about oil production and extraction in California? We want to answer them!
KCRW wants to answer your questions about fracking
Are you concerned about fracking in Southern California? Ask us your questions and we’ll investigate.
KCRW wants to answer your questions about the oil spill
One year ago, a corroded pipe operated by Plains All-American burst along the Gaviota Coast, a pristine coastline west of Santa Barbara. It released a river of crude oil into a…
The past and future of regulating oil
Today marks one year since an oil pipeline ruptured near Refugio Beach in Santa Barbara County, spilling 143,000 gallons of crude oil along the coast. This week, KCRW is checking…
Why one researcher calls Refugio spill response ‘outdated’
What has changed in spill response technology in the past decades? According to Sean Anderson, an environmental researcher at California State University-Channel Islands, not a lot. He’s spent years studying oil spills, from…
Pipeline company Plains faces criminal charges
The Texas oil pipeline company behind last year’s 142,000 gallon oil spill along the Gaviota Coast in Santa Barbara County has been indicted on 46 criminal charges. Plains All American Pipeline faces…
Who’s dealing with the wildlife data?
Ever since the corroded pipe operated by Plains All-American burst, releasing a river of crude into the ocean at Refugio State Beach, biologists have been out studying the effects on wildlife. Jenny Marek…
