Moments ago, the California Public Utilities Commission approved Southern California Gas’s application to increase the capacity of the notorious Aliso Canyon gas storage facility to the limit. 

Said Andrea Vega, Food & Water Watch Southern California Organizer, “This vote is a slap in the face to the community members who have been living with the ongoing consequences of the worst gas blowout in American history. Aliso Canyon poses a significant danger to the health and safety of our communities and is entirely unnecessary to maintain California’s energy reliability.

“Today’s vote was a mockery of democracy. Despite the fact that the public comments on Aliso Canyon during today’s meeting unanimously called for closure, the Newsom-appointed Public Utilities Commission ignored the community yet again to side with irresponsible and greedy fossil fuel interests. There can be no transparency in this process when the commissioners make these decisions behind closed doors. Only a transparent process on Aliso Canyon will ensure that those who make decisions that can affect the health of our communities will be held accountable.

“It is past time for Gov. Newsom fulfilled his campaign promises and shut this dangerous facility down. We are done with empty promises.”