Emma, Newburger (2021 October, 21). California moves to ban oil wells within 3,200 feet of homes and schools. Retrieved January 27, 2022, from https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/21/california-moves-to-ban-oil-wells-within-3200-feet-of-homes-schools.html

Governor Gavin Newsom proposed to have a 3,200-foot buffer zone, separating schools, homes, and hospitals from oil and gas wells. Any wells within the zones would be required to implement new pollution controls. California has no pre-existing buffer zone which causes the 7th highest oil-producing states, residents, many health problems. Including asthma and other birth defects. This oil buffer zone is not something new as other states have already implemented similar regulations but California would be the largest in the country. The overall downside of this would be the impact on the oil industry and its workers.

 

I think this is a great thing, it is a small step towards moving away from fossil fuels and is helping communities and their health. The new regulations would also help the environment around the wells which would be amazing. And although fracking wasn’t able to be banned this as I said would be a small but crucial step towards moving California a major fossil fuel producer and consumer away from it all. Yes, this would affect the price of fossil fuels but that as well helps motivate people to move away from them and to new renewable sources.