Latest News
Stay up to date on the campaign to move California beyond fossil fuels.
FILTER BY:
SORT BY:
Blog / In the News / Press Release
A Decade of Deception Exposed: New Report on Big Oil’s Front Groups in California
November 19, 2024 – SACRAMENTO, CA – A new exposé reveals how the Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA), the oil industry’s most powerful lobbying group in California, has […] READ MORE →
Big Oil Shatters Spending Records in California: $31.4 Million in 2024 with One Quarter to Go
November 5, 2024 – Aiming to fend off polluter accountability and anti-price gouging measures, the oil industry has now spent $56.8 million in the 2023-2024 legislative session so […] READ MORE →
Kern County Approves California’s First Carbon Capture Project Amid Public Outcry
October 23, 2024 – BAKERSFIELD, CA — In a decision that climate advocates and local residents say will undermine California’s hard-fought climate progress, the Kern County Board of […] READ MORE →
Q2 Lobbying: Big Oil On Record Annual Spending Pace Fighting Polluter Accountability Bills
August 12, 2024 – Chevron represented 49% of industry’s $8.3M expenditure, as company landing permits in setbacks zone on day setbacks referendum pulled rises in ranks. Sacramento, […] READ MORE →
California Oil Regulator Refuses to Enforce New Climate Justice Laws, Groups Urge Governor Newsom to Step In
July 18, 2024 – SACRAMENTO, CA — In response to Californians’ growing demand for climate action, state lawmakers have recently passed some of the most robust laws in […] READ MORE →
California’s Historic Environmental Justice Law Is Restored: Advocates Celebrate No New Oil Drilling in Neighborhoods
July 2, 2024 – SACRAMENTO, CA – The state law to end new oil drilling in neighborhoods and install strict pollution controls at existing oil and gas sites […] READ MORE →
California Oil Regulator Issues 13 New Drilling Permits in Kern County, Breaking Nine-Month Streak of No Permits for New Oil Wells
June 5, 2024 – SACRAMENTO, CA – The California Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) issued at least 13 new drilling permits in May. Ten of these permits greenlight […] READ MORE →
Climate Victory: California Moves to Officially Ban Fracking!
March 27, 2024 – Advocates from Across the State Offer Public Support for Oil Regulator’s Proposed Rule SACRAMENTO, CA — After years of advocacy from climate groups and […] READ MORE →
California Groups Push Fossil Fuel Phaseout at COP28 as State Leadership Blasts Oil Industry Lies
December 13, 2023 – SACRAMENTO, CA — With world leaders returning home following the close of the UN Climate Change Conference COP28, California’s environmental justice and climate advocates […] READ MORE →
NEW: Unveiling the Animated Chronicle of Larry Saldaña: A Tale of Environmental Injustice and the Perils of Idle Oil Wells in California
October 10, 2023 – Advocates Highlight the Ticking Toxic Time Bomb of California’s Aging Oil Wells and Call on Governor Newsom to hold Fossil Fuel Executives Accountable for […] READ MORE →
Carbon Tracker: Statement on California’s Orphan Wells Law
September 27, 2023 – Statement from Rob Schuwerk, Executive Director, Carbon Tracker North America on California’s Orphan Wells Law: “Having returned from well-received speeches at New York Climate […] READ MORE →
Climate Justice Advocates Applaud California’s Historic Climate Leadership As Gov. Newsom Takes On Big Oil
September 18, 2023 – SACRAMENTO, Calif — California Governor Gavin Newsom has brought Big Oil’s deceit into sharp focus on the national stage with his commitment to hold […] READ MORE →
Pozos petroleros fugan gas metano en California – llame a Newsom hoy para demandar acción urgente!
July 18, 2023 – A principios de este año, Larry Saldana encontró en su granja orgánica en el condado de Kern charcos de petróleo en el suelo y […] READ MORE →
Oil & Gas Wells Spew Methane, Some at Explosive Levels, in Kern Communities
June 13, 2023 – Community members to go door-to-door to inform residents of risks as advocates push for stronger statewide regulations California environmental regulators discovered 27 […] READ MORE →
Pozos petroleros fugan gas metano en California – llame a Newsom hoy para demandar acción urgente!
June 8, 2023 – En una reunión con líderes comunitarios el 31 de mayo, los reguladores revelaron que las inspecciones recientes encontraron 27 pozos petroleros en las comunidades […] READ MORE →
Last Chance Alliance Announces Statewide ‘Big Oil Resistance Tour’
March 24, 2023 – A 7-Stop Tour from San Diego to Sacramento Galvanizing CA’s Climate Justice Movement to End Oil Drilling SACRAMENTO, CA — Climate advocates, lawmakers and […] READ MORE →
California Issues Hundreds of Neighborhood Oil Drilling Permits After Fossil Fuel Industry Stays Landmark Environmental Justice Law
March 17, 2023 – Sacramento, CA – Climate justice advocates are descending on state oil regulator CalGEM today at noon to express their outrage over the recent approval […] READ MORE →
Climate Advocates Say: “No More Revolving Door” Outside Natural Resources Agency, Call For Newsom to Appoint a Public Health Leader as Top Oil Regulator
January 26, 2023 – SACRAMENTO, CA — Environmental justice advocates gathered outside the California Natural Resources building today for a protest urging Governor Newsom to appoint someone with […] READ MORE →
Proposed California 2023-24 Budget Prioritizes Health Buffer Commitment to Oil Drilling Communities Despite Some Cuts to Climate Programs
January 11, 2023 – Proposed California 2023-24 Budget Prioritizes Health Buffer Commitment to Oil Drilling Communities Despite Some Cuts to Climate Programs SACRAMENTO, CA — Governor Newsom’s proposed […] READ MORE →
Push to repeal California anti-oil law inches closer to goal
December 14, 2022 – READ MORE →
California’s Oil Industry Subverts Democracy with Petition to Undo Historic Health & Safety Law and Continue Drilling in Neighborhoods
December 13, 2022 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 13, 2022 California’s Oil Industry Subverts Democracy with Petition to Undo Historic Health & Safety Law and Continue Drilling […] READ MORE →
Gov. Newsom’s Proposal to Cap Windfall Profits Wins Full Support of CA Climate Justice Advocates at Start of Special Legislative Session
December 6, 2022 – Gov. Newsom’s Proposal to Cap Windfall Profits Wins Full Support of CA Climate Justice Advocates at Start of Special Legislative Session SACRAMENTO, CA […] READ MORE →
VISION: 3,200ft Setbacks on New and Existing Wells Passes through the Legislature
August 31, 2022 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 31, 2022 Contact: Kobi Naseck | kobi@vision-ca.org Riddhi S. Patel | rpatel@crpe-ej.org 3,200ft Setbacks on New and Existing […] READ MORE →
FracTracker Alliance Discovers Uncontrolled Emissions at 68 Oil Sites Across California
August 22, 2022 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 22, 2022 CONTACT: Kyle Ferrar, Western Program Coordinator, FracTracker Alliance, 415-890-3722 ferrar@fractracker.org FracTracker Alliance Discovers Uncontrolled Emissions at 68 Oil […] READ MORE →
160 Climate Activists March Through Sacramento Calling for Phase Out of California Oil
August 13, 2022 – SACRAMENTO, Calif.– Today a youth-led climate protest brought together advocates from across California for a rally on the west steps of the Capitol […] READ MORE →
Animated Video Explains Connection Between Oil Drilling and California’s Climate-Driven Wildfires
August 4, 2022 – SACRAMENTO, Calif– Today Last Chance Alliance, an alliance of more than 900 climate, health, justice and community groups, released a video explaining how […] READ MORE →
Newsom’s Climate Proposals Further Entrench Fossil Fuels and Delay Transition at a Time When Real Action is Desperately Needed
July 26, 2022 – Sacramento, CA – Last Friday, Governor Newsom sent a letter to the California Air Resources Board that acknowledged the limited ambition of their […] READ MORE →
Residents Living Near Oil Drilling and Allies Converge on CalGEM Offices to Expose Gross Monitoring Violations and Long-Delayed Safety Rulemaking
July 13, 2022 – SACRAMENTO, CA – Residents living on the frontlines of California’s oil extraction, and allies from across the state, came together today for demonstrations at […] READ MORE →
Climate Advocates From Across CA Call Out Oil Industry Greed Amid Soaring Gas Prices and Climate-Driven Extreme Weather Events
June 15, 2022 – SACRAMENTO, CA – From Sacramento to San Diego, activists took the climate fight to the streets of their local communities yesterday to highlight the […] READ MORE →
Californians Deploy Direct Actions Across the State to Highlight Urgent Need to Halt New Fossil Fuel Projects
April 8, 2022 – Sacramento, CA – At a pivotal moment for our climate, Californians across the state hit their local streets, bridges and waterways, calling on Gov. […] READ MORE →
Gov. Newsom’s State of the State: Strong Statements on Climate, Short on Action
March 9, 2022 – Gov. Newsom’s State of the State: Strong Statements on Climate, Short on Action SACRAMENTO, CA — Yesterday Gov. Gavin Newsom delivered his annual state […] READ MORE →
Newsom Declares “Oil-Free Future” But Proposed Budget Doesn’t Address Extraction
January 10, 2022 – Newsom Declares “Oil-Free Future” But Proposed Budget Doesn’t Address Extraction Sacramento, CA– Today, Gov. Gavin Newsom released a proposed 2022-23 state budget that commits […] READ MORE →
California Joins the International ‘Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance’ as a Second-Tier Member
November 11, 2021 – GLASGOW — Today at the United Nations climate conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance (BOGA) announced California will join as […] READ MORE →
CA Governor Newsom Announces Statewide 3,200-foot Setback Distance to Separate Communities from Toxic Oil Operations
October 21, 2021 – Today, Gov. Newsom announced that California’s oil regulator, California Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) has released its long-awaited draft health and safety rule recommending a mandated 3,200-foot distance between new oil and gas extraction sites and the places where people live, work and play. READ MORE →
Massive Oil Spill in Orange County Highlights Need for Phase Out of All CA Oil Production
October 4, 2021 – A massive spill has leaked as much as 126,000 gallons of oil from a broken pipeline connected to an offshore drilling platform about five miles off the coast of Orange County, CA. READ MORE →
Environmentalists, Public Health Advocates Take Climate Crisis to Steps of Capitol
September 28, 2021 – Today, environment and public health advocates will unite to bring the climate crisis to the steps of the Capitol Building in Sacramento with a visually-driven demonstration. READ MORE →
Newsom’s Historic Climate Package Fails to Deliver Action on Fossil Fuels
September 23, 2021 – Today, Governor Newsom announced a $15 billion climate package including nearly $4 billion for electric vehicles, $5 billion for drought management, and $1.5 billion for wildfires, forest management, and prescribed burns in the state of California. However, the Governor made no mention of immediate action on phasing out fossil fuels. READ MORE →
Newsom, the Recall Is Over; Time To Uphold Commitments to Climate and Communities
September 15, 2021 – With the election now behind us, environmental advocates across the state are touting the strength of progressive voters who helped keep a dangerous climate denier out of office. READ MORE →
Californians Impacted by Oil Drilling and Climate-Driven Wildfires Unite in the Call for an Urgent End to Oil & Gas Production
August 13, 2021 – Sacramento, CA—Today, climate and public health experts joined community members who have been most impacted by California’s climate crisis to highlight the role in-state […] READ MORE →
CA Oil Regulator Denies 21 Fracking Permits But Leaves Frontline Communities Waiting on Health & Safety Protections
July 9, 2021 – CA Oil Regulator Denies 21 Fracking Permits But Leaves Frontline Communities Waiting on Health & Safety Protections Today, CA’s oil regulator CalGEM announced […] READ MORE →
Newsom’s May Budget Revision Includes $200 Million to Plug Abandoned Oil & Gas Wells
May 14, 2021 – Gov. Newsom’s May budget revision, released today, will help drive economic opportunity as we simultaneously address the climate crisis. READ MORE →
California becomes largest oil producer in world to commit to total oil phaseout, ban fracking — but not soon enough
April 23, 2021 – Climate and Environmental Justice advocates, along with Last Chance Alliance, are urging Newsom to use this historic wave of new appointments to show his commitment to racial justice and the climate. READ MORE →
Governor Newsom’s 2021 Budget Fails to Address the State’s Fossil-Fueled Public Health and Climate Crises
January 8, 2021 – Today, California Governor Gavin Newsom released his 2021 state budget, which fails to directly address the extraction and production of in-state fossil fuels, despite the climate and health threats posed to communities living near pollution sites during this pandemic. READ MORE →
Advocates Urge Gov. Newsom to Appoint Climate Justice Leaders
December 8, 2020 – Climate and Environmental Justice advocates, along with Last Chance Alliance, are urging Newsom to use this historic wave of new appointments to show his commitment to racial justice and the climate. READ MORE →
CA Audit Reveals Major Violations Under Newsom’s Watch as he Cozies Up to Big Oil
December 1, 2020 – Sacramento, Calif. — An audit by the state Department of Finance reveals that oil and gas regulators have been violating their own rules. As […] READ MORE →
Last Chance Alliance is in solidarity with California’s family caregivers
November 2, 2020 – We are in solidarity with the 123,402 family caregivers employed through the state’s In Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program and the more than 300,000 employed by private homes in California. READ MORE →
CA Governor Newsom’s Executive Order on Climate Is Missing Action on Oil
October 1, 2020 – Climate & Justice Advocates Demand More from Governor to Phase Out Oil Drilling SACRAMENTO, CA — Today, CA Governor Gavin Newsom announced an Executive […] READ MORE →
Ventura County Votes to Protect Communities from Toxic Oil Operations with Health and Safety Buffer Zones
September 2, 2020 – After a 14-hour final hearing on the Ventura County General Plan yesterday, the Board of Supervisors took historic steps to protect vulnerable frontline communities by establishing buffer zones separating oil wells from homes and schools. READ MORE →
Culver City Takes Historic Steps to End Neighborhood Oil Drilling
August 14, 2020 – Innovative Policy in L.A. County Could Ignite Just TransitionWhile Protecting Residents From a Legacy of Toxic Emissions. READ MORE →
Governor Newsom Ramps Up Fracking Under Cover of Holiday Weekend
July 8, 2020 – The Newsom administration issued 12 new fracking permits to Chevron in the Lost Hills oilfield of Kern County just as Californians headed into the Fourth of July weekend. READ MORE →
OVER 40K CALIFORNIANS DEMAND A BUFFER ZONE BETWEEN OIL WELLS AND PEOPLE LIVING NEAR THEM
June 12, 2020 – State Regulators Quietly Issue Fracking Permits Under Cover of COVID-19 Just Before Deadline for Community Input on Public Health Rulemaking READ MORE →
Black Lives Matter
June 3, 2020 – We stand in solidarity with protesters and communities with the Black Lives Matter movement and the Movement for Black Lives. READ MORE →
CALIFORNIA OIL REGULATORS APPROVE 24 NEW FRACKING PERMITS AFTER NEARLY SIX MONTH MORATORIUM
April 3, 2020 – The California Geologic Energy Management Division (Cal-GEM) issued at least 24 hydraulic fracturing (fracking) permits to Aera Energy, a Kern County based oil operator. READ MORE →
Rally Outside State of the State Urges Governor to Phase Out CA’s Fossil Fuel Extraction
February 19, 2020 – Groups with Last Chance Alliance held a rally outside Governor Newsom’s State of the State address to highlight the environmental and public health threats posed by California’s oil industry. READ MORE →
Greenpeace, Jane Fonda, Joaquin Phoenix, Norman Lear, Nalleli Cobo, & others bring fire drill Fridays to Los Angeles
February 7, 2020 – After four months of iconic protests to demand leaders act to address the climate crisis in Washington D.C Jane Fonda, Greenpeace USA, Last Chance Alliance, Joaquin Phoenix, and others have brought Fire Drill Fridays to California. READ MORE →
Environmental Justice Advocates Present Dangers of Oil Drilling to CA State Assembly
January 28, 2020 – SACRAMENTO—Yesterday, the California State Assembly held an oversight hearing to consider the sustainability and safety of California's oil extraction industry in light of massive spills at Chevron's Cymric oil field in Kern County over the last few years. READ MORE →
California Sets Global Precedent by Becoming First Major Oil Producer Starting Process to Phase-Out Oil Supply
November 19, 2019 – SACRAMENTO.━ Today, California Governor Gavin Newsom launched an unprecedented new effort to begin phasing out in-state oil production as part of a plan to make the state carbon neutral by 2045. California, which boasts the fifth largest economy in the world and ranks among the nation’s top oil producers, will begin a process to strengthen health and safety requirements, including the consideration of a setback requirement near oil permitting, establish a moratorium on an extreme-extraction technique known as steam injection that poses serious contamination risks to nearby air and water sources, and establish new third-party review for fracking and other related permitting, with a moratorium on new fracking approvals pending further review. READ MORE →
Last Chance Alliance Calls for Phase-out of California Oil Drilling During Climate Week
September 24, 2019 – SACRAMENTO—On Friday, as youth across California were striking to protect their futures from disastrous climate change, the office of Governor Newsom announced that he would be signing an executive order to “leverage the state’s $700 billion pension investment portfolio and assets to advance California’s climate leadership.” While the executive order touches on many aspects of California’s economy, including state investments, transportation systems and vehicles and electric vehicle infrastructure, it fails to address the state’s fossil fuel industry. READ MORE →
Climate and Justice Advocates Call on Gov. Newsom to Immediately Halt Oil & Gas Permitting Amid Flagrant Agency Violations
August 12, 2019 – SACRAMENTO—First uncovered by the Desert Sun, Californians learned today that the state agency responsible for regulating the oil and gas industry, the Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) has been using “dummy” files to allow fossil fuel companies to avoid review and continue risky projects without oversight. This news comes one month after Governor Newsom’s office fired DOGGR head Ken Harris for doubling the fracking permits issued during his time as governor without his knowledge and reports of conflict of interest among senior officials. READ MORE →
Governor Newsom Tours Kern County Oil Spill as Local Residents Call for Immediate Health and Safety Protections
July 24, 2019 – MCKITTRICK, CA– Governor Gavin Newsom today visited Chevron’s Cymric oilfield, the site of one of the largest oil spills ever in California, that has reportedly seeped 974,400 gallons of a hazardous mix of oil and wastewater into the surrounding area for over two months. READ MORE →
Massive Oil Spill Endangers Central Valley Residents and Highlights State Agency’s Negligence in Protecting Community Health and Climate
July 12, 2019 – MCKITTRICK, CA—As first reported by KQED, an oil spill even larger than the 2015 Plains All American Pipeline disaster occurred in Kern County. It spilled more than a half-million gallons of oil and wastewater into the surrounding area over the past two months. READ MORE →
Advocates Call For Prioritizing Community Health and Safety as CA Explores Managed Decline of Fossil Fuels
June 28, 2019 – SACRAMENTO—California Governor Gavin Newsom yesterday signed into law a state budget that allocates $1.5 million for “a study to identify strategies to decrease demand and supply of fossil fuels, while managing the decline of fossil fuel use in a way that is economically responsible and sustainable.” An interagency state team, in partnership with the University of California system, will explore managing the decline of in-state production alongside a decrease in demand. READ MORE →
Governor Newsom’s Budget Revision Highlights Need for “Managed Decline” of Fossil Fuel Supply in California
May 6, 2019 – 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. READ MORE →