Los Angeles, CA — Two votes from the California Public Utilities Commission this week will determine the future of natural gas storage at SoCalGas’ Aliso Canyon storage facility, site of the worst natural gas blowout in U.S. history, and whether its capacity will be increased.
Up for consideration are two separate proposals: one would increase the storage capacity limit to 100% allowable capacity at 68.6 billion cubic feet (Bcf) and the other would set the limit at 60% percent at 41.6 Bcf. Requests to increase Aliso Canyon storage limits come from the Indicated Shippers, a group of oil companies including California Resources Corporation, Chevron, Phillips 66 and Tesoro. In 2019, Governor Newsom directed the CPUC to expedite the closure of Aliso Canyon. In the interim, the L.A. City Council as well as the L.A. Board of Supervisors have also voted in favor of shutting the facility down immediately. You can view the Commission’s agenda by clicking here.
Independent investigations have countered the data used by the gas industry and the CPUC and indicated that increasing storage limits will not materially improve energy reliability this winter. Environmental and public health advocates as well as San Fernando Valley residents still sickened by the blowout’s aftereffects plan to make public comment at the meeting to oppose any increase in the site’s gas storage capacity.
WHAT: California Public Utilities Commission vote on gas storage increase at Aliso Canyon
WHEN: Thursday, November 4 at 10:00 am
WHERE: Click here to watch the virtual meeting.
WHO: Members of environmental advocacy organizations like Food & Water Watch, Save Porter Ranch, Aliso Moms Alliance, Sunrise Movement Los Angeles, Extinction Rebellion Los Angeles
Public health professionals and community health advocates
Impacted San Fernando Valley community members
Contact: Jessica Gable, (202) 683-2478, [email protected]
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