A plan to expand SoCalGas’ Aliso Canyon gas storage facility is facing resistance from environmental groups, elected officials, and local residents.
The proposal, under consideration by the California Public Utilities Commission, would increase the underground facility’s limit from 41 billion cubic feet to 68.6 billion, putting the volume at nearly 100% capacity, the Daily News reports.
Last week, SoCalGas agreed to a $71 million settlement over a 2015 gas leak at the Aliso Canyon facility, which was the largest methane leak in national history. Thousands of Porter Ranch residents were forced to leave their homes for months.
After the leak, former Gov. Jerry Brown asked the CPUC to draw up plans to close the facility by 2027. Gov. Gavin Newsom previously endorsed this plan, but so far, his CPUC appointees have continued to raise the limit on Aliso Canyon’s storage.
The CPUC voted Tuesday to extend operations at three natural gas plants in Huntington Beach, Long Beach, and Oxnard. During the meeting, dozens of residents, activists, and officials urged the board not to do the same for Aliso Canyon.
“Any expansion at Aliso Canyon is an insult to the thousands of community members whose lives were, and continue to be, impacted by the 2015 blowout,” said Chirag Bhakta, California director of Food & Water Watch.
Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo, who represents Porter Ranch, said the board’s proposals to “prolong our dependence on natural gas and increase underground storage near communities that still navigate the health impacts of the past disaster take us in the wrong direction.”
The CPUC will vote on the Aliso Canyon expansion on Aug. 31.
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