Joined by climate advocates and local officials at the Inglewood Oil Field near Los Angeles on Wednesday, Newsom signed three bills to further regulate oil drilling throughout the state. Advocates erupted in chants as the bills were signed into law.
“No drilling where we’re living!” they said.
Newsom signed one bill proposed by Assembly member Dawn Addis of San Luis Obispo, which allows local governments to regulate oil drilling within certain distances of sensitive areas, including schools, neighborhoods, and playgrounds. These spaces between wells and community areas are often called buffer zones.
Martha Dina Arguello is the Executive Director of Physicians for Social Responsibility and has long advocated for buffer zones for oil drilling. The oil industry has fought the policy, calling it unconstitutional.
“They have tried to block our most fundamental right to breathe clean air,” Arguello said. “We have faced this industry with its deep pockets, and we have prevailed.”
Newsom also signed another bill, proposed by Assemblymember Gregg Hart of Santa Barbara, that will require oil refiners to maintain idle oil and gas wells that pose environmental risks. There are currently approximately 35,000 idle wells in California.
The final bill in the package, AB 2716 by Assemblymember Isaac Bryan of Los Angeles, will prohibit low-oil production wells located in the Inglewood Oil Field.
Newsom says the bills are just one step towards increased accountability for the oil industry.
“They are the polluted heart of this climate crisis,” Newsom said. “They've been lying and deceiving us for decades and decades and decades and it's finally, finally time to hold big oil accountable.”
This comes as Assembly lawmakers prepare to vote on Newsom’s proposal to lower gas prices during its special session this week. Assembly member Hart introduced the proposal as ABX2-1, which would require oil refiners to maintain minimum fuel stocks with the goal of preventing price spikes.
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