Many probably suspected that the oil industry would spend big to defeat Measure Z—if the measure passes, it will negatively impact the industry's profits.
But until today, one could only guess how much.
The No on Measure Z campaign filed campaign disclosure documents with the Monterey County Elections Department today, and they reveal that—from Jan. 1 to Sept. 24— $3,301,480 worth of contributions have been made to the campaign, $3,250,000 of which is cash.
All of cash contributions were made by Chevron and Aera, LLC, the county's two biggest oil operators. Chevron has given $1,812,480 to the campaign, while Aera has put in $1,464,000.
So far, the campaign has spent just over $2 million.
On the flipside, Protect Monterey County, statements show that the Yes on Z campaign, has received about $175,000 in contributions, about $143,000 which is cash. The campaign has spent $46,602.
Nearly all the contributions to the Yes campaign came from individuals, and are mostly less than $1,000. The campaign's largest contribution is from the nationally-based nonprofit Center For Biological Diversity, which gave $32,000.
When comparing the two campaigns to date, No on Z has outspent Yes on Z by more than a 40-1 ratio.
(5) comments
Willing to bet that the Mayors of DRO, Salinas, Gonzales & Greenfield have been bought and paid for by Chevron. Fracking has made areas of Texas & Oklahoma seismically dangerous - and each frack uses 1 million gallons of precious, dwindling H2O. Why would anyone think it would be a good idea to frack on the San Andreas fault??? And in the middle of the worst drought in recent history???
Monterey County is 100% dependent on groundwater for it's drinking water and irrigation of it's crops,ie, foods we eat...Nothing should be put INTO the ground because of this, such as the fracking process...Oil WILL continue to be pumped in Monterey County even if this measure fails, so don't let these oil companies scare us..Shame on the Mayors who have fallen for their BS...
There is no fracking in Monterey County. Not because the oil companies wouldn't be willing, I'm sure, but because it's neither necessary here nor is it financially viable. So this measure is about banning all oil production, not really about fracking. Banning all oil production is NOT a good idea, either economically nor from an energy independence stand point.
Oil-rich Monterey shale extends north throughout much of the Salinas Valley and into Santa Clara County. When oil prices go up, and they will, fracking that shale could well become financially viable. But Measure Z does NOT ban all oil production, and the operations can continue in the San Ardo oil fields if it passes. However, injection of toxic waste waters into underground aquifers will be banned, and that will cut into company profits.
Someone should do a survey to see if the deceitful anti-Z commercials are fooling anyone.
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