Six-figure ad buy calls out California governor for failing to close site of public health disaster

Los Angeles – New Hampshire, Michigan, South Carolina, and Nevada are about to learn what California already knows: that Governor Gavin Newsom might talk a big game when it comes to protecting the climate and public health, but when it comes to standing up to big utility interests, his actions tell a very different story. 

A new six-figure ad buy from Food & Water Action warns that while Newsom attempts to position himself as a national leader in opposing Trump’s destructive climate agenda, he has not fulfilled commitments to Californians. The video ad calls out Newsom for failing to close the controversial Aliso Canyon gas storage facility, the site of the largest gas blowout in U.S. history and the consequent public health disaster. 

“Americans are looking for leadership to resist Trump’s assault on our climate. Someone who follows through and won’t back down,” the ad says. “Governor Newsom promised to shut down Aliso Canyon, the site of the largest gas blowout in US history. A public health disaster. But his public utilities commission is considering keeping it open indefinitely – just like the oil and gas industry wants. Climate leadership? We’re looking for it.” 

“Governor Newsom wants to position himself as a national leader on climate and in opposing Trump, but he can’t be a credible national leader if his own house is not in order” said Mitch Jones, Deputy Director of Food & Water Action. “While Newsom has taken some important steps on oil drilling, other policies have significantly undermined climate progress. These include undermining rooftop solar, embracing industry backed plans like dirty biogas and carbon capture, and failing so far to keep his promise to close Aliso Canyon. The December 19 commission meeting is a big test for Newsom. Will Newsom stand with the people or big utility interests.”

This ad campaign comes as the effort to shut down Aliso Canyon ramps up. In recent months, over 100 scientists wrote Newsom imploring him to shut down Aliso Canyon, over 150 organizations have called for him to do the same, and thousands of Californians have written and called the Governor asking him to fulfil his promise to shut down the facility.  

Experts have been urging California to close the facility. Between October 2015 and February 2016, Aliso Canyon spewed over 100,000 tons of methane, a planet-warming pollutant, as well as toxic chemicals, including benzene, which can cause cancer. In the weeks, months, and years following the Aliso Canyon explosion, residents reported health issues from persistent headaches and nosebleeds to respiratory problems and cancer. Dozens of researchersfrom UCLA and partners are studying the health fallout of the Aliso Canyon leak. Preliminary results show that pregnant women living in the vicinity of Aliso Canyon during the blowout were 50% to 70% more likely to have low-birth-weight babies. Former Governor Jerry Brown pledged to close Aliso Canyon by 2027 and Newsom pledged to expedite that timeline, but the commission he appointed seems determined to keep it open.

The California Public Utilities Commission is meeting this week to vote on the future of Aliso Canyon. Will Newsom finally stand up to the oil and gas industry and direct his commission to shut it down? That’s what Californians are wondering. And now it’s what New Hampshire, Michigan, South Carolina, and Nevada residents will be wondering too.

Contact: Seth Gladstone – [email protected]