VICTORY! Tell Governor Newsom to Sign SB 704 

On September 30, 2023 Governor Newsom closed an archaic loophole in California state law that was giving oil companies a shortcut to develop dangerous new fossil fuel infrastructure along our coast. SB 704, authored by Senator Min, ends that special privilege and strengthens protection against oil spills while accelerating California’s international climate leadership. 

SB 704 closed the 'industrial override' provision of the Coastal Act that made it easier and cheaper for oil developers to build in the coastal zone for decades. Removal of this provision in the Coastal Act will now strengthen legal protections against the kinds of fossil fuel development that cause oil spills – facilities such as pipelines, production platforms, and storage tanks that are known to pollute our lands, waters, and communities.

The newly passed SB 704 will also reduce the likelihood of new offshore drilling in federal waters by serving as advance defense against potential federal expansions for drilling; and helps our state coastal policies to support California’s climate goals instead of giving the oil industry unfair privileges to build new infrastructure that will prolong our oil addiction.

Read more about this campaign at our blog.