A pair of ballot measures that would ban “high-intensity” oil and gas drilling operations in two California counties is getting a lot of attention from the oil and gas industry, with an industry-backed group pouring millions into an opposition campaign.
Measure P in Santa Barbara County would ban a list of techniques for unlocking underground oil and gas reservoirs, most notably hydraulic fracturing. The group sponsoring Measure P, Santa Barbara County Water Guardians, said the processes should be banned because of concerns over the chemicals used and because “the threatened proliferation of new wells threatens the County’s famed scenic vistas, robust tourism industry and quality of life.” Measure J in San Benito County listed similar concerns in its ballot text.
The industry-backed political action committee, Californians for Energy Independence, Including Energy Producers, said the bans would results in California losing 1,000 jobs and $16 million in local tax revenue. The group has received huge contributions from several Houston-based companies, including oil and gas giants Exxon Mobil and Occidental Petroleum.
Local bans on the process are nothing new — hundreds of local counties across the country have outlawed the well stimulation technique responsible for the shale oil boom in the United States.
But the industry appears to be drawing a line in Santa Barbara and San Benito — Californians for Energy Independence has gathered $7.6 million in contributions to fight the measures, according to documents filed with the California Secretary of State. That number towers over contributions to the pro-ban side, which has recieved just $284,000 so far, according to the Santa Barbara Independent.
Occidental has been amongst the biggest givers to the anti-ban side at $2 million. Exxon Mobil gave $300,000. Two other Houston companies were also on the list of contributors: Freeport-McMoran Oil and Gas LLC gave almost $500,000, and ERG Operating Co. gave about $11,000.
San Ramon, California-based Chevron Corp. has given the most at $2.5 million, and Bakersfield, California-based Aera Energy gave a little over $2 million.
According to the Washington Post, only a few other local campaigns across the country have pulled down as much cash in 2014.
Texas has its own high-profile ballot fight over the use of hydraulic fracturing — opposing groups have raised over $282,000 over a potential ban of the process, the most ever spent on an ordinance in the city.
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