Big Oil wants to be your neighbor, take action to make them a good neighbor

Living in Southern California means having oil drilling somewhere nearby. It has been this way for almost 100 years. Just look at historic photos of communities like Huntington Beach and there are forests of oil derricks. Big Oil likes being your neighbor, and as a California resident, you just had to live with this fact until a newly passed law. The law suggests that Oil and Gas interests have been a bad neighbor. Apparently, they have been a bad neighbor to enough Californians to get a law put on the books to kick them out and keep them out starting next month.

 

Next month, a law called SB1137 will ban new oil and gas production with 3,200 feet of homes, hospitals and schools.  This is a big deal because in California nearly 3 million residents live within 3,200 feet of oil and gas operations.

 

This law was the achievement of decades of activism, but it is under threat even before it goes into effect on January 1, 2023. Rather than protect public health, Oil and Gas interests focused on using money to get their way. Mean rich neighbors can be the worst kind of neighbor. Worse than being a bad neighbor, they are trying to figure out a way to roll back the new law and go back to their old ways of profits over their neighbors’ health and quality of life.

 

Oil interests have begun a petition to stall and repeal the law. Who would sign a petition that would allow oil wells within 3000 feet of their homes?  According to reporter Lisa Gross of Inside Climate News canvassers backed by the oil industry are Telling California Voters that a Ballot Measure Would Ban New Oil and Gas Wells Near Homes. In Fact, It Would Do the Opposite!

 

Oil interests have been pouring a great deal of money into preventing this and similar legislation. Not satisfied with winning on the issues of offshore oil drilling, oil interests continue to use profits from the pump to influence your local elected officials.

 

According to Dan Bacher of the Daily KOS 8 oil companies, who currently operate thousands of wells within the banned distance of 3200 feet from homes, schools, hospitals and other facilities, have contributed $7.5 million of the total $9.2 million raised to overturn the law by gathering signatures to qualify a referendum, according to the groups. His charts and analysis makes for interesting reading.

 

 

1) DON”T BE FOOLED BY CANVASSERS THAT MISREPRESENT THEIR PETITION and make sure your neighbors and friends are knowledgeable enough to ask the right questions when asked to sign a oil and gas related petition.

 

 

6) Join our Chapter’s Mailing List for those interested in Oil & Gas issues by calling (213) 387-4287