Gavin Newsom pushes to increase storage at gas facility despite campaigning on shutting it down, embracing green energy

Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom and his administration are pushing to increase storage at a gas facility despite Newsom previously campaigning on the promise of shutting the storage facility down and embracing the green energy agenda.

On Wednesday, Politico reported that Newsom supports the expansion of Aliso Canyon, an underground gas storage facility that was the site of the largest methane leak in the nation's history.

The storage facility is located 8,500 feet underground in Los Angeles. In 2015, the facility experienced a massive, 109,000 metric-ton gas leak that prompted county officials to temporarily relocate 8,000 households, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

The agency stated, "As a result of the blowout, people in neighboring communities experienced 'rotten egg' odors, oily mists, and acute health symptoms, including eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, and respiratory symptoms."

It took 111 days to reseal the leak successfully.

While running for California governor in 2018, Newsom vowed to shut down the Southern California Gas Company's Aliso Canyon facility if elected.

Democratic politicians, including California Senator Dianne Feinstein and California Representatives Barbara Lee, Katie Porter, and Adam Schiff, have voiced support for the facility's closure.

Now, with fears of potential energy price spikes and blackouts, Newsom is pushing for the expansion of the gas storage facility. Last month, the governor's administration also granted extensions to three natural gas plants that were scheduled to be closed. Additionally, he is keeping the state's last remaining nuclear plant, Diablo Canyon, open despite previously supporting its closure.

Anthony York, a spokesperson for Newsom, told Politico, "If that comes at the expense of the lights staying on, you know, you have to be practical."

According to the California Energy Commission, utility companies are required to procure 60% of their retail sales from renewable resources by 2030.

"California has even established a 100 percent zero-carbon energy planning goal by 2045," the agency's website notes.

California Energy Commission appointee Patty Monahan told Politico, "Climate change is making it harder to fight climate change."

"As we moved from a system that was really around how we just reduced demand for electricity to a system where we say 'No, no, let's scale up as fast as possible because that's how we clean the air,' it's stressing our system. We are finding it really hard," Monahan said.

Newsom's office told the Daily Caller News Foundation that the governor is "committed to keeping the lights on while maintaining affordability for all Californians."

"At the same time, the governor has advanced the nation's most aggressive transition away from fossil fuels and has taken action to make it easier to build the clean energy projects our state needs," Newsom's office added.

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