California to expand fossil fuel project Gavin Newsom said he was 'fully committed' to shutting downCalifornia's top state regulator that oversees utilities approved a plan to expand a controversial fossil fuel facility that Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has vowed to shut down.
The five-member California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) voted unanimously late Thursday to increase inventory capacity at the Aliso Canyon Natural Gas Storage Facility in Los Angeles County, the agency announced.
Under the new rules, the facility, managed by Southern California Gas Company, would increase capacity 67% to the state safety limit of 68.6 billion cubic feet.
While CPUC members and state officials reaffirmed their commitment to a broader green energy transition and to eventually shutter the facility, they explained Thursday's decision was made "as a financial hedge against potential high winter market prices."
The move could also save consumers in southern California up to $450 million on natural gas this winter.
"I want to note that this decision is being considered while we, together with other state agencies, are working with urgency on the challenge of reducing reliance on natural gas throughout the state," CPUC President Alice Reynolds said before the vote. "We do have some policy level levers that we're using on our work to transition away from natural gas.
Climate change is bringing many unpredictable and extreme weather events. This decision will help us be more resilient to those impacts," Reynolds added. "But we are working in the transition, and we have to take into account the real-world conditions we're facing and the real-world impacts of our actions. We currently have few alternatives, especially for low-income and vulnerable communities."...................
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/california-expand-fossil-fuel-project-gavin-newsom-fully-committed-shutting-down
