Today 109 elected officials from 24 counties in California sent a letter to Governor Jerry Brown calling for a statewide plan to phase out fossil fuel production in California.
The letter was sent in anticipation of Brown’s Global Climate Action Summit this September 12-14, 2018 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.
“Now is the time to address the true costs of oil and gas production on our communities and public health,” the new group, Elected Officials to Protect California, explained on their website. “Fossil fuels cost Californians thousands of lives and billions of dollars in public health and climate damages each year. Elected officials across the state must stand together on this critical issue.”
The group said, “We must take the missing step of climate leadership and commit California to a plan for phasing out oil and gas production, starting with:
- A halt to permitting of new oil and gas projects
- A 2,500-ft public health drilling setback from homes, schools, farms, and other vulnerable areas
- 100% clean energy, starting with investing in disadvantaged communities.”
Below is the letter to Governor Jerry Brown, available at: http://californiaelectedofficials.org/
Dear Governor Brown
We, the undersigned elected officials of California, are deeply concerned about the impacts of climate change and pollution caused by the extraction, processing, and burning of fossil fuels on the people we represent. We applaud your leadership in affirming our state’s commitment to the Paris Agreement and in supporting groundbreaking policies like the Clean Energy and Pollution Reduction Act. Yet, these measures have failed to address fossil fuel production, the core culprit of climate change and a major source of life-threatening pollution.
On behalf of our communities, and the estimated 5.4 million Californians who live within a mile of one or more oil and gas wells,1 we ask you to take the next step in bold climate leadership: phase out fossil fuel production in California by ending the issuance of permits for new fossil fuel projects, instituting a 2,500-foot public health setback for oil and gas facilities, and committing the state to 100% renewable energy.
The science is clear: these actions are imperative to address climate change and to protect public health. Production of oil and gas is a significant contributor to California’s greenhouse gas emissions,2 and is particularly polluting. Three-quarters of California’s oil production is as dirty as Canada’s tar sands crude for the climate.3
We can no longer ignore the true costs of oil and gas production. The disastrous impacts of fossil fuel use, including air pollution, droughts, fires, mudslides, storms, and sea level rise, already cost Californians more than 12,000 lives and one hundred billion dollars annually.4 Yet the oil and gas industry contributes less than 0.3 percent of California’s GDP and a small number of jobs.5, 6
Scientific evidence demonstrates that exposure to toxic air contaminants and other pollution caused by oil and gas wells is a significant threat to public health, and disproportionately affects disadvantaged communities and people of color.1 According to the California Council on Science and Technology, the greatest health risks occur within one-half mile from active oil and gas development,7 yet nearly 8,500 active California oil and gas wells are within 2,500 feet of homes, schools, and hospitals.8Unconscionably, California has no statewide policy limiting the proximity of oil and gas wells to homes and vulnerable areas like schools, parks, and hospitals.
The Global Climate Action Summit you are convening in San Francisco this September is an opportunity for California to lead and set our nation and the world on a crucial and pivotal path forward. Recognizing that we are in a climate emergency, as you have rightly done, and given the grave public health and environmental justice consequences of fossil fuel production in California, we respectfully urge you to make a new statewide commitment and lay out a plan for California to achieve the following:
- End the issuance of permits for new fossil fuel projects, including permits for new oil and gas wells, infrastructure for fossil fuels, and petrochemical projects in California.
- Design a swift, managed decline of all fossil fuel production, starting with a 2,500-foot human health buffer zone around all occupied structures, public parks and farms to protect public health and vulnerable communities.
- Commit the state to 100% clean, renewable energy, starting with significant investments in disadvantaged communities and areas that are already suffering the most from the negative impacts of fossil fuel extraction.
This is the bold climate leadership we urgently need to protect our public health, communities, economies, and our future. Phasing out fossil fuel production is paramount to address climate change, and will make California healthier and cleaner while reducing water use. It will also create hundreds of thousands of jobs throughout the state as we increase investment in renewable energy, clean vehicles and buildings, energy efficiency, public transportation, and other innovative solutions.4
For a safe, healthy, and prosperous California, the time for transformative action is now.
Respectfully,
- Jonathan Abboud
Vice President and Trustee
Santa Barbara Community College District, Santa Barbara County
- David Alvarez
Councilmember
San Diego, San Diego County
- Will Arnold
Councilmember
Davis, Yolo County
- Jesse Arreguín
Mayor
Berkeley, Alameda County
- Thomas Aujero Small
Mayor
Culver City, Los Angeles County
- Vinnie Bacon
Vice Mayor
Fremont, Alameda County
- Catherine Blakespear
Mayor
Encinitas, San Diego County
- Spencer Brandt
Director
Isla Vista Community Services District, Santa Barbara County
- Sandy Brown
Councilmember
Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County
- Monica Brown
Supervisor
Solano County
- Chris Canning
Mayor
Calistoga, Napa County
- Adam Carranza
Board Member
Mountain View Elementary, Santa Clara County
- James Chang
Rent Board Commissioner
Berkeley, Alameda County
- Cynthia Chase
Councilmember
Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County
- Ann Crosbie
Trustee
Fremont Unified School District, Alameda County
- Xilonin Cruz-Gonzalez
Board Vice-President
Azusa USD Board of Education, Los Angeles County
- Gleam Davis
Mayor Pro Tem
Santa Monica, Los Angeles County
- Oscar de la Torre
Boardmember
Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, Los Angeles County
- Serge Dedina
Mayor
Imperial Beach, San Diego County
- Scott Donahue
Councilmember
Emeryville, Alameda County
- Carol Dutra-Vernaci
Mayor
Union City, Alameda County
- Alex Fisch
Councilmember
Culver City, Los Angeles County
- Debora Fudge
Councilmember
Windsor, Sonoma County
- Leah Gold
Councilmember
Healdsburg, Sonoma County
- Michael Goldman
Councilmember
Sunnyvale, Santa Clara County
- Aaron Gomez
Councilmember
San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo County
- Shanthi Gonzales
Director
Oakland Board of Education, Alameda County
- Elliot Gonzales
Commissioner
City of Long Beach Sustainability Commission, Los Angeles County
- Morgan Goodwin
Councilmember
Truckee, Nevada County
- Abel Guillen
Councilmember
Oakland, Alameda County
- Jose Gurrola
Mayor
Arvin, Kern County
- Alan Haffa
Councilmember
Monterey, Monterey County
- Dan Hamburg
Supervisor
Mendocino County
- Gary Hardie
Boardmember
Lynwood Unified School District Board of Education, Los Angeles County
- Karalee Hargrove
School Board President
Morongo Unified School District, San Bernardino County
- Heidi Harmon
Mayor
San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo County
- Amy Harrington
Mayor Pro Tem
Sonoma, Sonoma County
- Kate Harrison
Councilmember
Berkeley, Alameda County
- Lesa Heebner
Councilmember
Solana Beach, San Diego County
- Judy Hegenauer
Councilmember
Solana Beach, San Diego County
- John Heilman
Mayor
West Hollywood, Los Angeles County
- Ed Hernandez
Councilmember
San Leandro, Alameda County
- Sue Himmelreich
Councilmember
Santa Monica, Los Angeles County
- Sam Hindi
Mayor
Foster City, San Mateo County
- Christy Holstege
Councilmember
Palm Springs, Riverside County
- Lindsey Horvath
Councilmember
West Hollywood, Los Angeles County
- Christian Horvath
Councilmember
Redondo Beach, Los Angeles County
- Stephen Houlahan
Councilmember
Santee, San Diego County
- Amy Howorth
Mayor
Manhattan Beach, Los Angeles County
- Kayla Jones
Councilmember
Seaside, Monterey County
- Nicholas Josefowitz
BART Director
San Francisco, San Francisco County
- Dan Kalb
Councilmember
Oakland, Alameda County
- Rebecca Kaplan
Councilmember
Oakland, Alameda County
- Andy Katz
Director
East Bay Municipal Utility District, Alameda County
- Kelly Kent
Vice President
Culver City Unified School District, Los Angeles County
- Paul Koretz
Councilmember
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County
- Geoff Kors
Councilmember
Palm Springs, Riverside County
- Chris Krohn
Councilmember
Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County
- Peter Lacques
Mayor
Fairfax, Marin County
- Brett Lee
Mayor Pro Tem
Davis, Yolo County
- Daniel Lee
Councilmember
Culver City, Los Angeles County
- Rey León
Mayor
Huron, Fresno County
- Linda Maio
Councilmember
Berkeley, Alameda County
- Dianne Martinez
Councilmember
Emeryville, Alameda County
- Eduardo Martinez
Councilmember
Richmond, Contra Costa County
- Michele Martinez
Mayor Pro Tem
Santa Ana, Orange County
- Justin Massey
Councilmember
Hermosa Beach, Los Angeles County
- Kevin McKeown
Councilmember
Santa Monica, Los Angeles County
- Tam Nguyen
Councilmember
San Jose, Santa Clara County
- Pam O'Connor
Councilmember
Santa Monica, Los Angeles County
- Terry O'Day
Councilmember
Santa Monica, Los Angeles County
- Susan Ornelas
Councilmember
Arcata, Humboldt County
- Jose Ornelas
Councilmember
San Joaquin, Fresno County
- Barbara Parker
City Attorney
Oakland, Alameda County
- Jane Parker
Supervisor
Monterey County
- R. Rex Parris
Mayor
Lancaster, Los Angeles County
- Elizabeth Patterson
Mayor
Benicia, Solano County
- Eric Payne
Community College Board Trustee
Fresno, Fresno County
- Andy Pease
Councilmember
San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo County
- Sofia Pereira
Mayor
Arcata, Humboldt County
- Aaron Peskin
Supervisor
San Francisco, San Francisco County
- Jim Provenza
Supervisor
Yolo County
- Carmen Ramírez
Mayor Pro Tem
Oxnard, Ventura County
- Alex Randolph
Vice President
City College of San Francisco Board of Trustees, San Francisco County
- Ada Recinos
Councilmember
Richmond, Contra Costa County
- Dan Rivoire
Councilmember
San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo County
- J.R. Roberts
Mayer Pro Tem
Riverside, Palm Springs County
- Hillary Ronen
Supervisor
San Francisco, San Francisco County
- Ken Rosenberg
Councilmember
Mountain View, Santa Clara County
- Laura Rosenthal
Councilmember
Malibu, Los Angeles County
- Carol Russell
Vice Mayor
Cloverdale, Sonoma County
- Meghan Sahli-Wells
Vice Mayor
Culver City, Los Angeles County
- Sam Salmon
Councilmember
Windsor, Sonoma County
- Laura Santos
Community College Board Trustee
Walnut, Los Angeles County
- Greg Scharff
Councilmember
Palo Alto, Santa Clara County
- Leonard Siegel
Mayor
Mountain View, Santa Clara County
- Alejandro Soto-Vigil
Rent Stabilization Board Commissioner
Berkeley, Alameda County
- Glenn Sylvester
Councilmember
Daly City, San Mateo County
- David Terrazas
Mayor
Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County
- Roseann Torres
Director
Oakland Board of Education, Alameda County
- Igor Tregub
Rent Board Commissioner
Berkeley, Alameda County
- Tony Vazquez
Councilmember
Santa Monica, Los Angeles County
- Jefferson Wagner
Mayor Pro Tem
Malibu, Los Angeles County
- Gary Waldeck
Councilmember
Los Altos Hills, Santa Clara County
- Martine Watkins
Vice Mayor
Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County
- Brett Watson
Vice Mayor
Arcata, Humboldt County
- Susan Wengraf
Councilmember
Berkeley, Alameda County
- Melvin Willis
Vice Mayor
Richmond, Contra Costa County
- Michael Winkler
Councilmember
Arcata, Humboldt County
- Ted Winterer
Mayor
Santa Monica, Los Angeles County
- Steve Young
Vice Mayor
Benicia, Solano County
References
- Srebotnjak, Tanja and Miriam Rotkin-Ellman, “Drilling in California: Who’s at risk?,” Natural Resources Defense Council, October 2014, p. 4. https://www.nrdc.org/sites/default/files/california-fracking-risks-report.pdf
- California Air Resources Board, “California’s 2017 Climate Change Scoping Plan,” November 2017, p. 7. https://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/scopingplan/scoping_plan_2017.pdf?_ ga=2.253665481.1304555220.1515158610-304097323.1509477659
- Oil Stain. How Dirty Crude Undercuts California’s Climate Progress. Center for Biological Diversity. November 2017. https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/climate_law_institute/energy_and_global_warming/pdfs/Oil_Stain.pdf
- Jacobson, Mark Z. et al. “A roadmap for repowering California for all purposes with wind, water, and sunlight.” Energy (2014). https://web.stanford.edu/group/efmh/jacobson/Articles/I/CaliforniaWWS.pdf
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, “Gross domestic product (GDP) by state (millions of current dollars),” January 24, 2018. https://www.bea.gov/iTable/index_regional.cfm
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and California Employment Development Department’s (EDD) Labor Market Information Division, “Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages: Industry Information,” industry codes 211 (Oil and gas extraction) and 213 (Support activities for mining), accessed April 2018. https://data.edd.ca.gov/Industry-Information-/Quarterly-Census-of-Employment-and-Wages-QCEW-/fisq-v939
- California Council on Science and Technology (CCST), “An Independent Scientific Assessment of Well Stimulation in California: An Examination of Hydraulic Fracturing and Acid Stimulations in the Oil and Gas Industry – Summary Report, “ July 2015, p. 63. https://ccst.us/publications/2015/2015SB4summary.pdf
- Oil Change International. The Sky’s Limit California: Why the Paris Climate Goals Demand that California Lead in a Managed Decline of Oil Extraction. May 2018. http://priceofoil.org/content/uploads/2018/05/Skys_Limit_California_Oil_Production_R2.pdf