Californians have a choice to make on oil
Voters next year could decide two competing, complex initiatives on oil wells in California.
Last September, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law Senate Bill 1137. It established a so-called “health protection zone,” also called a setback or buffer, of 3,200 feet around new or reworked oil wellheads, which would be banned within that distance near homes, schools, hospitals and detention centers. Until then, there was no limit. That’s why in some neighborhoods in California you see pumpjacks bobbing up and down right next to homes.
According to the Guardian, most other state setbacks are between 100 and 150 feet. And the “most stringent” among major energy states is Colorado’s 1,000 feet.
The practical impact of SB 1137 is clear. It would dramatically reduce California’s ability to be energy self-sufficient, kill high-wage blue-collar jobs and make California even more reliant on out-of-state and foreign oil for years to come.
The latter issue is particularly ironic given the supposed environmental concerns of supporters of SB 1137. “It will only lead to significantly higher transportation costs and an increase in greenhouse gases and other emissions associated with bringing that oil into the state,” noted the Western States Petroleum Association.
The State Building and Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO, also opposed SB 1137 at the time, noting that California already has robust environmental regulations.
“The production of oil in California is under the strongest environmental and labor standards in the world,” they noted. “Extraction operations are regulated by more than two dozen federal, state, and local regulatory agencies that enforce these standards.”
Alas, Sacramento lawmakers ignored both the petroleum industry and labor.
To repeal SB 1137, the California Independent Petroleum Association worked to gather signatures for an initiative to put SB 1137 up for a vote. They successfully put on the Nov. 2024 ballot the “California Oil and Gas Well Regulations Referendum.” A “Yes” vote will uphold the law, a “No” vote will reject the law.
The successful placement of the referendum prompted the Campaign for a Safe and Healthy California, a coalition of environmentalist groups, on Aug. 2 to file with the Attorney General’s office the Stop Toxic Oil Drilling Act of 2024. The initiative would affirm SB 1137. According to the SCNG reporter Brooke Staggs, supporters of that initiative have until next April to gather about 1 million signatures to successfully get it on the ballot.
Under California law, if two initiatives cover the same issue, the one of the most votes prevails. In the meantime, SB 1137 is suspended until the voters decide its fate.
Would the 3,200-foot “setback” make us more healthy?
It’s hard to say because there are studies on both sides, explained Robert Michaels, emeritus professor of economics at Cal State Fullerton to our editorial board. He further noted that said the SB 1137 setback, if it survives, probably wouldn’t increase the price of gas and diesel paid by consumers. That’s because 70% of our oil is already imported, mainly from Ecuador, Saudi Arabia and East Asia. However, workers in the industry would be affected by losing their jobs.
It seems to us SB 1137 was made too restrictive. Colorado’s 1,000 feet setback would have been more reasonable. The Legislature’s mistake should be corrected by the voters repealing SB 1137. That won’t happen, obviously.
Hence, Californians will have the chance to do it themselves.