Monterey Becomes California's First Major Oil-Producing County to Ban Fracking Voters in Monterey County, California's fourth-largest oil-producing county, on Tuesday passed Measure Z to ban fracking and other dangerous extraction techniques. The measure won with more than 55 percent of the vote, despite supporters being outspent 30 to 1 by oil companies, including Chevron and Aera Energy. Measure Z also phases out toxic wastewater injection and prohibits new oil wells in the county. Monterey is the sixth county in California to ban fracking. Monterey Ballot Vote Is Rare Victory for Anti-Fracking Movement in Oil Country The national anti-fracking movement scored a victory in California this week as voters in Monterey County approved a ballot measure to ban fracking in one of the state’s biggest oil-producing counties. Two counties bordering Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz, had banned the contentious extraction method, although neither had a sizable oil industry. Monterey’s San Ardo oil field, in contrast, has been churning out crude for nearly 70 years, making Monterey the fourth-largest oil-producing county in California. |
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