Economic report calls Monterey County anti-fracking measure “negative”
An economic report released by a group supporting the oil industry in Monterey County has both sides of the argument up in arms.
Monterey County for Energy Independence requested a report allegedly highlighting a negative economic impact if voters pass a ballot measure calling for a ban on fracking and acid well stimulation treatments. Fracking is not currently being done in Monterey County, but acid well stimulation treatments are happening at oil fields in San Ardo, according to MCEI.
That initiative called “Protect Our Water: Ban Fracking and Limit Risky Oil Operations,” and was introduced by anti-fracking group “Protect Monterey County. In May, the group gathered enough signatures to put the measure on the November 2016 ballot.
The report states that allowing the initiative to pass would cost Monterey County millions of dollars in tax losses as well as hundreds of lost jobs. It also said it could bankrupt the county while having negative effects on groundwater and agriculture, while shutting down existing oil wells.
“What we’re talking about here is shutting down a field that has been around since the 1940’s that has been a steady source of jobs and income to the county. You know, and you kind of wonder from a local perspective what the cost-benefit ratio really is,” said economist Brad Williams.
On the other side, anti-fracking advocates call the report “deceptive.” They said the initiative would not shut down all oil wells in Monterey County, but rather stop new ones from being drilled. They claim oil companies push contaminated water back into aquifers, violating the safe water drinking act, that will eventually cost the county and state billions to clean up. They warn if fracking comes to Monterey County, it could have a similar situation similar to the one in Flint, Michigan.
“There are heavy metals and wastewater they’re pumping back, they get into people’s systems and they never leave. They have effects on cancer, on cognitive development, and all of that impacts the economy. When you have a whole cohort of folks whose health has been impacted, we’re gonna pay for that,” said Andy Hsia-Coron with Protect Monterey County.
