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Officials say the project would speed up decomposition and produce green energy and other byproducts

From Noozshawk.com - By Carlyle Johnston | Published on 07.12.2010

After a three-year process including the development of a feasibility report, extensive public outreach and an extensive request for proposal process, four companies have submitted formal proposals to build and operate a conversion technology facility to process solid waste disposed at the Tajiguas Landfill.

“We are impressed by the variety of technologies and number of companies who wish to participate in this unique public-private partnership,” said Mark Schleich, deputy director of public works for Santa Barbara County.

The proposed new conversion technology facility will recover recyclables and use bacteria or high levels of heat in a highly controlled environment to speed up the decomposition of the community’s waste, ultimately producing a local source of green energy and other useful byproducts.

The four companies that have submitted proposals are International Environmental Solutions, Mustang Renewable Power Ventures, NRG Energy and Plasco Energy Group.

The comprehensive proposals will be reviewed over the summer and results will be presented to the community in the fall. The evaluation of the project will be overseen by a partnership among Santa Barbara County and the cities of Santa Barbara, Goleta, Solvang and Buellton.

The board also discusses California Coastal Commission policy recommendations for its Local Coastal Land Use Plan

By Ben Preston, Noozhawk Staff Writer | Published on 07.06.2010

After a flurry of debate lasting a few weeks, the decade-old problem of how best to approach erosion protection at Goleta Beach Park received a big push forward Tuesday as the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted 3-0-1 to approve conceptual plans presented by county Parks Department staff.

Deputy Parks Director Eric Axelson said the plan, dubbed Goleta Beach 2.0, was an attempt by county staff to tackle the problem in an entirely different manner in the wake of the California Coastal Commission’s 9-1 defeat last summer of the previous proposal put forward by the county.

Where the former plan, called the permeable pile pier project, sought to use a series of wooden pilings placed alongside Goleta Pier to trap sand on Goleta Beach, Goleta Beach 2.0 is what planners said is a more natural approach, and calls for movement of infrastructure and parking areas away from parts of the park vulnerable to erosion.

When Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wielded the budget-balancing pen on Tuesday, signing off on a $27 billion budget package, he tacked on an additional $489 million in extra cuts that essentially put the Williamson Act program on life support.

Established in the 1960s, the Williamson Act provides tax breaks to landowners who enter agricultural property into 10-year rolling contracts that restrict most development.

In Santa Barbara County about 550,000 acres are under Williamson Act contract, or roughly 75 percent of all local agricultural land.

In the cyclical agricultural industry, many landowners rely on the tax break to remain viable, while agricultural and open space advocates appreciate the contracts and the resulting blockade on most types of development.

Schwarzenegger stopped short of dismantling the program, opting instead to pull $27.8 million the state would have paid to counties this year to help offset the decreased property taxes paid by Williamson Act landowners.

According to county Supervisor Doreen Farr, whose 3rd district includes the Williamson Act-rich Santa Ynez Valley and Gaviota Coast, the county would have received $640,000.