Bipartisan group of hundreds of officials thanks Newsom for ending fracking by 2024 but urges immediate action to protect the health of communities suffering from deadly fossil fuel pollution
California Chapter of Elected Officials to Protect America’s Response to Governor Newsom’s announcement to establish path to end oil drilling by 2045
Today, Governor Gavin Newsom announced, “The climate crisis is real, and we continue to see the signs every day. As we move to swiftly decarbonize our transportation sector and create a healthier future for our children, I’ve made it clear I don’t see a role for fracking in that future and similarly, believe that California needs to move beyond oil.”
In response, Dominic Frongillo, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Elected Officials to Protect America said:
“On behalf of more than 315 elected officials from 49 counties representing half of all Californians, we thank Governor Newsom for declaring California is the first state to commit to a complete phase out of fossil fuel production. This important and historic announcement signals to the world that the era of fossil fuels is coming to an end.
“However, immediate action is needed to stop the annual 34,000 premature deaths in the state due to fossil fuel pollution. The science is clear. We must protect the frontline and fenceline communities harmed most by breathing in this toxic, cancerous air. These communities can’t wait until 2045 to phase out fossil fuels. They need immediate action, their lives depend on it. The California Chapter of Elected Officials to Protect America will continue to urge the Governor to use his executive authority to end all new permits for oil and gas drilling and enact a moratorium on drilling within 2,500 feet of neighborhoods.
“With today’s historic announcement, we look forward to working with the Governor to protect Californians and lead the world in achieving a swift, equitable end to oil and gas production. Phasing out fracking is a major first step, but there are many others that need to happen to match the challenge our President has issued to world leaders. California has an opportunity to lead.”
Elected Official’s to Protect California’s letter urging Governor Newsom to commit to phasing out oil and gas production can be viewed here. The text of that letter is also available below:
June 3, 2019
Dear Governor Newsom,
We, the undersigned elected officials, are deeply concerned about the immediate and long-term harm to the people we represent from climate change and pollution caused by the extraction, processing, and burning of fossil fuels.
California has made great progress by committing our electricity sector to be carbon-neutral by 2045 and supporting the Paris Agreement. We appreciate that you have made addressing climate change a priority of your administration. You have rightly said “we must map out longer-term strategies…for California’s energy future, to ensure that the cost of climate change doesn’t fall on those least able to afford it.”
The science is clear that phasing out fossil fuel production is urgently needed to address climate change and protect public health. It is imperative that California issue no new permits and establish public health setbacks for existing oil and gas drilling. Production of oil and gas is a significant contributor to California’s greenhouse gas emissions.1,2 Yet California remains a top oil-producing state, and three-quarters of oil produced here is as climate-damaging as Canada’s tar sands crude oil.3 The disastrous consequences of fossil fuel production and burning from air pollution alone — not including escalating harms from droughts, fires, mudslides, storms, and sea-level rise — already cost Californians more than 12,000 lives and $100 billion dollars annually.4
Unfortunately, the worst costs of fossil fuels are falling on Californians least able to afford them, exacerbating environmental injustices. Nearly 8,500 active California oil and gas wells are located within 2,500 feet of homes, schools, and hospitals,5 where, according to the California Council on Science and Technology, exposure to toxic air contaminants and other pollution caused by oil and gas wells is a significant threat to public health.6 These harms disproportionately impact people of color and economically disadvantaged communities.7 Between 2011 and 2018, of the more than 21,000 new oil and gas wells permitted by the state, 76 percent are located in communities with above-average poverty rates for California, and 67 percent are located in communities of color.8
These harms are a bad deal for Californians. The oil and gas industry contributes less than 0.9 percent of California’s GDP and 0.2 percent of jobs,9,10whereas transitioning away from fossil fuels to renewable energy and expanding electrification is a net job creator.11,12
As governor of California, you have a historic opportunity to lead our nation and the world on a pivotal path away from fossil fuels. Recognizing that we are in a climate emergency, as you have acknowledged, 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 layout a plan 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 and safety buffer zone around all homes, hospitals, schools, playgrounds, and farms to protect public health and address the severe environmental injustice of production in low-income communities and communities of color.
- Commit the state to 100% clean, renewable energy in all sectors, starting with significant investments in disadvantaged communities and areas that are already suffering the most from the worst impacts of fossil fuel extraction and climate change.
Phasing out fossil fuel production is paramount to addressing climate change, and will make California healthier and safer. 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.4,12 We must include a just transition for fossil fuel workers to help build the clean energy economy of tomorrow, reducing pollution and expanding opportunity for all.
We look to you to provide the leadership we need for a safe, healthy, and prosperous California.
Respectfully,
More than 319 California Elected Officials from 49 Counties
View letter and signatories at https://protectingamerica.net/letter-to-governor-gavin-newsom
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April 23, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ramona du Houx,
Communications Director
Elected Officials to Protect America
Cell: 207.319.4727
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