This month’s oil spill off Orange County’s coast has endangered public health and local wildlife, and Irvine City Councilmember Larry Agran has stepped up to demand that the future of California does not include industries that degrade the environment. Read his statement below to learn more.

On October 20, I joined more than 350 elected officials from more than 175 different cities to urge Governor Gavin Newsom to put an end to offshore drilling. The letter I signed called on the Governor to commit to 100% renewable energy, stop issuing permits for new fossil fuel projects, and eliminate the production of fossil fuels in 2,500 “buffer zones” around homes, hospitals, schools, and playgrounds. While I am responding most directly to this month’s devastating oil spill off the coast of Huntington Beach, I also believe these proposals would further my goal for Irvine to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.

California needs to take decisive action to prevent the oil and gas industry from polluting our communities’ waters.

Reports indicate 25,000 gallons of oil have flooded the coast of Huntington Beach since October 1, which forced the emergency closure of 17 beaches and exposed people to toxic odors. The spill also damaged the Huntington Beach Wetlands, one of the few remaining habitats for thousands of species in California. Residents of Irvine rely on having nearby access to safe, pristine beaches for business, recreation, and mental health, and local wetlands will make our community resilient in the face of climate change to flooding and erosion. That is why this month’s spill was unacceptable, and why every community in California needs to start reducing its reliance on fossil fuels now.

I extended my support to Elected Officials to Protect America on this letter that supports a ban on offshore oil and gas drilling.