Bernie Sanders vows to ban fracking in Monterey County

UPDATE 6/1/2016 5:40 PM: Making a third stop on his Central Coast tour in Spreckels, presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders wasn’t in rally-mode on Wednesday, but he did have a clear message to voters when it comes to protecting Monterey County.

“And I hope very much that Monterey County will continue the momentum that makes it clear that fracking is not safe, and is not what we need for our kids,” Sanders said.

That’s the same message being echoed by more than 16,000 people backing a ballot initiative to ban fracking in Monterey County. On Wednesday, the petition will be officially certified and received by the county. Sanders is looking to take the issue a big step further.

“If elected president, we will not need state by state, county by county action, because we’re going to ban fracking in all 50 states of this country,” Sanders said.

Sanders said he’s long been against fracking and is keeps tabs on work being done by local activists.

“It’s come down to the people of our region to protect our groundwater, to protect our health, to protect our children and protect our future,” said activist Andy Hsia-Coron.

“The fracking industry is pushing hard into our communities, and the effects are devastating,” said Margaret Rebecchi.

Spreckels is a town of less than 700 people but Sanders said it was an important campaign stop. It was also important to resident Joe Velasquez, who said he’s glad Sanders visited his small town.

“As far as the issue of fracking, it’s something that needs to be spoken in this area and I’m glad he’s here speaking about it,” Velasquez said.

Sanders argues fracking wastes or pollutes millions of gallons of fresh water, poisons the air, contributes to global warming.

“And has resulted in more earthquakes, something Californians know a little bit about,” Sanders said.

Californians for Energy Independence opposes the ban, issuing a statement saying in part:

“…the fracking ban initiative is a deceitful ploy that would bring an end to all oil production in Monterey County…it would endanger thousands of local jobs and dry up millions of dollars in local tax revenue.”

Sanders believes sustainable and renewable sources are long-term solutions to meeting the country’s energy needs, instead of bringing energy up to the surface.

“It is time to keep it in the ground,” Sanders said.

During Wednesday’s Monterey County Board of Supervisors meeting, supervisors decided to put the anti-fracking initiative on the November 2016 ballot.

PREVIOUS STORY: Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders is committing to doing whatever it takes to ban fracking in Monterey County and throughout the United States.

The Vermont senator appeared Wednesday at a press conference in Spreckels. He told reporters that he helped push Vermont to become the first state to ban the oil extracting technique known as fracking, and said he will work to have it banned nationwide.

Sanders’ statements come just as Monterey County Elections officials announced that a proposed fracking ban has enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot. Officials are expected to deliver the certified results to the Monterey County Board of Supervisors Wednesday afternoon.

KION’s Matt Sizemore is covering the story and will have more tonight at 5 and 6.