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Orange County supervisors split on opposing new offshore oil leases; resolution fails to pass
Summary
Vice Chair Foley moved a resolution opposing the federal administration's plan to open new offshore oil leases in California; supervisors were sharply divided on economic and environmental grounds. The roll call produced two 'yes' votes and an abstention, so the measure did not carry.
Vice Chair Foley introduced a resolution asking the board to oppose a federal plan to expand offshore oil leases off the California coast and to submit public comments to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
Foley said the county's coastal economy and tourism rely on clean beaches and noted the April 2021 pipeline leak that affected Huntington Beach. "The expansion of new offshore oil drilling leases is unnecessary. It's reckless. It endangers our coastal economy," Foley said.
Supervisor Wagner opposed the resolution on economic grounds, warning of higher energy costs and arguing that an outright ban on leases would remove an option to increase domestic supply. "We are watching gas prices rise in this state ' we need the energy," Wagner said. He urged the board to address pipeline safety and regulatory enforcement rather than a broad prohibition.
Supervisor Sarmiento supported the resolution and seconded Foley's motion, saying it was a measured, non-adversarial step to protect local economic and environmental interests.
Roll call produced two affirmative votes and one abstention; the resolution therefore failed to carry.
Why it matters: the measure would have put the county on record opposing federal expansion of leases and would have authorized staff to submit the county's views to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management during the comment period. The vote illustrates a split among supervisors balancing coastal-environment concerns with energy and economic considerations.
What happens next: the board did not approve a county-wide position on the new-lease plan on Dec. 16. Vice Chair Foley said staff should include written correspondence received by the board in any comment the county submits.
Representative quotes
"The expansion of new offshore oil drilling leases is unnecessary. It's reckless. It endangers our coastal economy," Vice Chair Foley said.
"We need the energy. We need the oil. We need the capacity," Supervisor Wagner said in opposition.
Provenance: topicintro SEG 3764, topfinish SEG 3999.
