Residents, local leaders denounce plan for more California offshore drilling

Local residents expressed their opposition to a Trump administration plan for new offshore drilling off the coast of California during a “People’s Hearing” at the Encinitas Community Center on Dec. 4.

Elected leaders and organizations, including the Surfrider Foundation and Oceana, urged everyone in attendance to sign a petition against new offshore drilling.

San Diego County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer mentioned the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill, which resulted in 4.2 million gallons polluting the ocean. Even though there is still offshore drilling off the California coast, no new offshore drilling leases have been issued in state waters since the Santa Barbara disaster, and there haven’t been new leases in federal waters in about 40 years.

“We built a movement out of that disaster, and here in San Diego, we’ve spent years building a cleaner, safer and more resilient energy future,” Lawson-Remer said. “One that learns from the past instead of repeating it.”

The Trump administration plan includes California in a potential expansion of offshore drilling along the West Coast from 2026 to 2031. A 60-day public comment period opened on Nov. 24 (ending Jan. 23). Doug Burgum, secretary of the interior, said in a statement it will ensure “that America’s offshore industry stays strong, our workers stay employed, and our nation remains energy dominant for decades to come.”

Opponents say it invites more environmental risk without significantly bolstering oil production in the U.S. or impacting markets globally.

“We’ve made huge progress, not just in protecting our environment, but building a more affordable clean energy future,” Lawson-Remer added. “We are not going to go backwards.”

U.S. Rep. Mike Levin and state Sen. Catherine Blakespear also left video messages in opposition to more offshore drilling.

Solana Beach Mayor Lesa Heebner, who also serves as the chair of the San Diego Association of Governments, added that “our coast is not for sale.”

“We all need to make our voices heard and ensure that they continue to be considered when so much is at stake,” Heebner said.