Center For Biological Diversity: Stop this shameful giveaway to Big Oil

Californians overwhelmingly support legislation to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for their actions — and for the damage they do to the climate and the environment. But Big Oil is fighting back, spending millions to lobby lawmakers for industry handouts. Now California legislators have introduced two bills to give the industry what it wants: more drilling permits and more ways to dodge its cleanup responsibilities. Assembly Bill 2711 would facilitate oil companies looking to expand drilling in California by rushing environmental review and limiting public input on potential projects. Meanwhile Assembly Bill 2716 would let polluters sidestep the Orphan Well Prevention Act, a 2023 law that helps protect taxpayers from industry bankruptcy — which Big Oil often uses to dodge its responsibilities and dump its cleanup costs on the public. Californians have paid enough for fossil fuel giants’ sins. Tell your state senator to stop this double-whammy giveaway to the oil industry. Act HERE.