California Legislature Stands Ready to Protect the Coast from Dangerous Offshore Oil Drilling

(SACRAMENTO) – Senate President pro Tempore Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) and Speaker of the Assembly Robert Rivas (D-Salinas) issued the following statements on the Federal Administration’s plan to reopen the California coastline to offshore oil drilling.

“We are committed to protecting California as this federal Administration goes against the wishes of Californians and reopens our waters to dangerous offshore drilling. New offshore drilling leases lock us into decades of pollution, a dependency on fossil fuels, and move us further away from our climate goals. Given the historical experience of both the Central Coast of California and the Gulf Coast, we can all see the writing on the wall – which is why there has been a bipartisan effort to stop the expansion of drilling along our coastlines. Oil spills in these waters have devastated local economies, including business owners, fisheries, and centers of tourism. A proposal to expand drilling off our coast is misguided and irresponsible.” – California State Senate Leader Monique Limón  

“California is investing in an affordable and sustainable energy future, but Donald Trump is dragging the country backward with a dangerous plan that puts our coastline and local economies in jeopardy. Risking catastrophic oil spills isn’t an energy strategy, it’s a direct threat to the workers and businesses that depend on a healthy coast. Offshore oil drilling is the wrong answer for our energy future, and the wrong direction for California and the nation.” – Speaker of the Assembly Robert Rivas

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Monique Limón serves as the President pro Tempore of the California Senate. She represents Senate District 21, which includes Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Luis Obispo Counties.
Website of Senate Leader Limón: sd21.senate.ca.gov