Environmental activists have launched a six-figure campaign attacking California Gov. Gavin Newsom's (D) climate change record with ads airing in four battleground states.
Food & Water Action is the lobbying arm of the national organization Food & Water Watch.30 second adHe accused Mr. Newsom of failing to deliver on his promise to close the controversial Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility.
“Americans need leadership to resist President Trump's attacks on climate change. Someone who will follow through and won't back down,” the ad reads. “However, his Public Utilities Commission is considering continuing operations indefinitely, as is the desire of the oil and gas industry.”
Aliso Canyon, located just northwest of Los Angeles, was home to the largest canyon in the country.-So farIn 2015, a methane gas leak forced families to evacuate the area.
During the 2018 gubernatorial campaign, Newsomtold a reporterHe said he was “fully committed” to closing the facility.
“At the beginning of his first term, it was Governor Newsom himself who announced his determination to close Aliso Canyon,” said Andrea Vega, Southern California senior organizer for Food and Water Watch, in a recent interview. -Told Hill.
“He even directed the Public Utilities Commission to expedite the closure,” Vega added.
But last December, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved an increase in the facility's inventory levels. ofdecisionThe CPUC said at the time that this was to “protect ratepayers from the kind of spikes in natural gas prices that occurred last winter.”
The CPUC is scheduled to vote this Thursday on a proposed decision that will continue to operate Aliso Canyon while establishing a final closure date, although a final closure date has not been determined.
As activists protest that conditions are inadequate, the CPUCannouncedLast week, it instead voted on Thursday to extend the statutory deadline for a decision to March 31, 2025.
The new ad campaign, scheduled to air in New Hampshire, Michigan, South Carolina and Nevada, will target sites that activists believe are a public health danger and unnecessary, according to Food & Water. The aim is to increase pressure on state governments to close. action.
“Governor Newsom wants to position himself as a national leader on climate change and against President Trump, but he can't be a credible national leader if he doesn't have a tidy home,” said a vice president of the lobbying group. Mitch Jones said. statement.
Asked to respond to the new campaign, Daniel Villaseñor, the governor's press secretary, said in an email that Newsom's “energy policy is ambitious, not reckless.”
“We are committed to safely closing Aliso Valley without negatively impacting working families with higher utility costs,” Villaseñor continued.
A spokesperson said it would be “irresponsible” to close Aliso Canyon before natural gas demand declines, citing the governor's success in accelerating the transition to clean energy.
“This is a recipe for exactly the same price hikes we've seen in the gasoline market,” Villaseñor said.
He explained that the state is working with local and federal partners to ensure plant safety through new protocols and rigorous inspections.
“The governor wants to phase out Aliso Valley, but he doesn’t want to sacrifice significant price increases for working families or the ability to keep the lights on,” Villaseñor added.
The Office of the Public Advocate, an independent watchdog within the CPUC, said last week thatexplainedThe proposed decision is proposed as striking a “careful balance between ensuring reliability, controlling energy costs, and advancing California's clean energy goals.”
Among the key measures included in the proposals is the publication of a biennial assessment to reassess the site's appropriate stock levels from June 2025.
Process according to CPUCfact sheetwill ultimately employ a combination of carbon-neutral energy resources to replace Aliso Canyon while facilitating gradual reductions on site.
“The proposed decision will ensure that the transition from Aliso Canyon is planned and responsive to California's evolving energy needs,” the Office of the Public Advocate said.
Mr Vega, meanwhile, expressed disappointment with the proposal, insisting it was “on track to stay on track” with a biennial review process rather than a firm timeline.
“This is honestly something very simple, but it's something that the community has been asking for for almost 10 years,” she said.
While Newsom may be widely viewed as a possible candidate for the 2028 presidential race, Vega emphasized his belief that political aspirations need to be put aside when it comes to Aliso Canyon.
“I just want Governor Newsom to keep his promises to the community,” she added.
