SACRAMENTO—California Governor Gavin Newsom released his revised 2019-20 budget proposal yesterday, calling for “the need for careful study and planning to decrease demand and supply of fossil fuels, while managing the decline in a way that is economically responsible and sustainable.” (p. 74) The proposal includes $1.5 million for a study laying out the key actions the state must take to transition California’s economy away from fossil fuels by 2050.
California is among the largest oil-producing states in the nation, extracting about 200 million barrels of oil per year. In communities across the state, such as South Los Angeles and Arvin, oil wells operate in close proximity to sensitive land uses, such as homes, schools and parks.
This is the first public acknowledgement by a California Governor of the need to address the state’s fossil fuel extraction and comes after years of advocacy by community, health, labor, and consumer groups who have pushed for a phase out of fossil fuel production, starting in communities most impacted by oil drilling.
Newsom’s proposal is being commended by climate and environmental justice advocates, who are encouraging swift follow-up from the Governor:
“For too long frontline communities have suffered the worst impacts of big oil,” said Darryl Molina Sarmiento, Executive Director of Communities for a Better Environment. “We are encouraged the Governor is highlighting this issue and we ask him to act with urgency. Time is running out.”