Expanding offshore drilling in California waters is risky, unpopular

Re “Lawmakers give a thumbs down on expanding offshore drilling in California” (Nov. 26): Expanding offshore drilling “to boost United States energy independence and sustain domestic oil and gas production” risks serious and long-lasting environmental health damage. Spills and leakage threaten economic harm (e.g., tourism and seafood industries) and onshore property damage. Public support is declining; in 2019 only 14% of Americans supported new offshore fossil fuel extraction.

Policy must balance cost against public benefit. Just 21% of acreage under active lease nationwide produces product, begging the questions: If expansion is so urgent, then what about the remaining 79%? While denying use of acreage to competitors, including offshore wind companies, benefits private industry, how does the public benefit?

Please submit your thoughts during the open public comment period and write your representative to support our local Rep. Mike Levin’s Southern California Coast and Ocean Protection Act.

— Ken Kobayashi, Rancho Santa Fe