"When constrained to just answering "yes" or "no" at last week's debate to a question on whether they would sign legislation to open more of Kern County in the Central Valley to oil production, only former Congressmember Katie Porter and Tom Steyer answered "no." Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Congressmember Xavier Becerra, Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco, San José Mayor Matt Mahan, and former Fox News personality Steve Hilton all answered "yes.""
"Not all "yes's" are equal. Hilton went well beyond just answering in the affirmative, and went on a rant claiming the governor doesn't need legislative support to change decades of state environmental policy. Mahan also over-used his time call for re-opening more oil refineries."
"Despite California's stated goal of converting to cleaner cars, it's hardly a hypothetical that legislation to increase the amounts of oil and gas extraction could find its way to a future governor's desk. Just last year, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 273 which already expanded oil and gas exploration and drilling in Kern County. Whether Nolan or any of the candidates was aware of this legislation is unknown."
"A coalition of environmental groups warned last year that opening the land for extraction would "...open the door to even more life-threatening pollution in some of the most polluted communities in the country, while locking in decades of climate disasters across the state." A recent report by the American Lung Association ranked Bakersfield, the largest"
At a debate question about signing legislation to open more of Kern County for oil production, Katie Porter and Tom Steyer answered no. Antonio Villaraosa, Xavier Becerra, Chad Bianco, Matt Mahan, and Steve Hilton answered yes. The yes responses varied, with Hilton arguing the governor could change long-standing environmental policy without legislative support and Mahan calling for reopening more oil refineries. California’s shift toward cleaner cars does not prevent future legislation that increases oil and gas extraction. Governor Gavin Newsom previously signed Senate Bill 273, expanding exploration and drilling in Kern County. Environmental groups warned that opening land for extraction could increase life-threatening pollution and lock in decades of climate disasters, and a recent American Lung Association report ranked Bakersfield among the most polluted cities.
#california-governor-election #oil-and-gas-extraction #kern-county #environmental-policy #high-speed-rail-and-gas-tax
Read at Streetsblog California
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