Gov. Newsom signs AB 3233 into law, giving authority to local jurisdictions over oil and gas.

Victory for members of Protect Monterey County, the architects of Measure Z that voters passed in 2016, came slowly. But it came today, eight years after their successful countywide ballot measure when Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 3233 into law. 

The bill, authored by Assemblymember Dawn Addis, D-Morro Bay, was inspired by the accounts of Protect Monterey County members who were frustrated to see the local measure thwarted. Chevron and Aera Energy, along with other interests such as mineral rights holders, sued the County of Monterey, seeking to block implementation of Measure Z. They won in court; Protect Monterey County appealed, eventually to the California Supreme Court, where oil operators again prevailed. The court determined that state regulators, not local voters, held the primary responsibility to govern oil and gas operations. 

Addis' bill is designed to give clear authority to local jurisdictions that may implement similar measures limiting oil and gas drilling. 

"Local communities want to be able to make choices for health and safety, as well as their property values," she says. "Communities have been doing this for the last 40-50 years. It sort of has been standard practice and was a surprise to many when Measure Z was overturned, setting a dangerous precedent to overturn the will of the voters.

"This is very much in line with California’s climate goals, and making sure Californians have a choice in our energy future."

Chevron and Aera media representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment; this post will be updated.