Fracking Ban Bill Fails in Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee
Many Democrats abstained, voted against SB 467 in surprising bill defeat
By Evan Symon, April 14, 2021 2:55 pm
A bill that would have banned fracking in California by 2027 and prohibited all oil and gas wells from being operated nearby homes, schools, and other populated areas failed in the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee on Tuesday by a vote of 4-3.
Had it passed, Senate Bill 467, authored by Senators Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and Monique Limon (D-Santa Barbara), would have prohibited new or renewed permits to conduct hydraulic fracturing, acid well stimulation treatment, steam flooding, water flooding, and cyclic steaming for the extraction of oil and gas beginning in January 2022. While permits issued in December 2021 and before would still be honored, operations would only be allowed to continue for five more years until the total ban took place. All new or renewed fracking permits within 2,500 feet of homes, schools, health care facilities or long-term care institutions would also have been prohibited by 2022. A final, total ban would have then been set for 2027.
The bill had widely been expected to pass due to many lawmakers publicly expressing support of the bill, with many agreeing with Wiener and Limon that fracking was too much of a risk to the environment and public health. Many also agreed with Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposal to ban fracking in October of 2020.
Republicans on the committee stood firm as expected, explaining that tens of thousands of jobs would be put at risk and that gas prices would climb drastically higher as a result of approving SB 467.
“By banning all in-state oil and gas production, SB 467 will destroy 50,000+ jobs, make California nearly 100% reliant on foreign energy imports, and raise gas prices to as much as $10 per gallon,” said Senator Brian Jones (R-Santee) on Tuesday. “I stand in strong opposition to this ridiculous bill.”
However, impassioned pleas from oil, gas, and other natural resource groups, as well as lawmakers bringing up the economic fallout it would have on poorer communities and rural areas, quickly reversed many positions.
Two Senators, Bob Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys) and Ben Hueso (D-San Diego) refused to cast ballots, with one Senator, Susan Eggman (D-Stockton) joining the Republicans in opposition. The Senators noted that the bill didn’t do anything to help transition California away from oil and would simply reduce it without a replacement in energy, as well as costing jobs and increasing expenses for lower-income people.
“Most of my constituents can’t afford expensive electric cars,” said Senator Eggman on Tuesday. “I’m just thinking about the rest of California and in my district: the people who commute, the people who have to drive trucks, the people who drive tractors. None of those are electric.”
“A bill too far”
Wiener and other Senators in favor of the bill were surprised at the outcome, not receiving the five votes needed to pass the bill onto the next committee.
“Obviously I’m very disappointed,” said Senator Wiener on Tuesday. “California really has not done what it needs to do in terms of addressing the oil problem. We have communities that are suffering right now, and the Legislature has repeatedly failed to act. If there is a path to narrowing the bill and getting the votes, we are very open to doing that. We’ll have to see what’s possible.”
Many insiders noted that, even though Wiener had tried to amend the bill to extend the amount of time that oil and gas well within 2,500 too places like homes and schools were allowed to operate for for a phasing out process, the bill had simply gone too far.
“Union members were calling in against the bill,” said “Dana,” a Capitol staffer. “For a bill with significant backing from Democrats, that doesn’t happen too often.”
“Being told that oil and gas production, as well as tens of thousands of jobs, would cease in less than six years has a startling effect. I mean, most oil production in California would end because of this. This was just a bill too far for most people.”
While too early to tell on Tuesday, a similar fracking bill is expected to return sometime next year, likely with many roll backs to avoid hurting the economy of many local areas and with less of a drastic reduction of oil production within the state.
- Democrat Adam Gray Defeats Rep. John Duarte By 187 Votes - December 4, 2024
- Nathan Hochman Sworn In As District Attorney Of Los Angeles County - December 4, 2024
- San Francisco Mayor-Elect Daniel Lurie Will Only Take A $1 Salary - December 3, 2024
Well, THAT’S interesting….. welcome news.
Thank you for covering it, Evan Symon.
I support this ban. Fracking has destroyed water quality throughout regions where it’s been practiced, and in California, Water is important.
Gavin Newsom’s corruption proved itself when he got whoopsied with a “Gavin Gaffe” and “accidentally” approved fracking permits for his cronies … that was the plan the whole time. The moment he got elected, he left the state with scorched, Fracked, earth.
Thomas, where is your evidence that “Fracking has destroyed water quality throughout regions where it’s been practiced.” Can you cite specific EPA studies? Snopes fact check shows this:
What’s True
In 2014, 11 wells in Kern County were closed in an “abundance of caution” due to poor administration in aquifer management; some crops in Kern County are irrigated with wastewater (and have been for many years).
What’s False
Crops in Kern County are irrigated with “toxic wastewater” that has been proved to contain harmful pollutants from fracking activities.
STFU Wiener!!!!
Your legislation is harmful to the economic well-being of Californians, and we’re not buying the BS that you’re slinging….
These schmucks we elect are obviously paid way too well, if they had to live by median income of the districts they represent, without the additional perks they get, they would legislate quite differently I’m sure. I doubt any of them could do it.
Funny, Scott D. Weiner pretends— he’s a serious legislator—he’s mostly interested making it easy for pervs in Hollywood to have sex with underage children—