According to the BLM: “More oil was produced in California in 2013 than in any other state except Texas and North Dakota” and in 2009 76% of that production used enhanced techniques that would be banned by Measure J. There was not a single documented report of significant groundwater or aquifer contamination from all those operations and water use is a drop in the bucket compared with agriculture or even food processing.
Don’t be hustled – if 76% of the wells in the state used enhanced processes, then Measure J effectively closes down almost all future oil production in the county and the supporters know it. To deny it is simply dishonest; it’s like making tires illegal but saying you’re not really banning cars and trucks – just tires.
Everything has risks, but these can be managed like other risks in our lives; Senate Bill 4 passed last September does that very well and automatically expands next year. Real environmentalists supported it. The radicals did not.
The pro-Measure J leader said he used to “commute to Watsonville” and loved his electric car with its small environmental footprint. Perhaps he commuted because could not find a local job. Unfortunately, that’s a common problem in San Benito County.
However, his car choice is not good for everyone. It had only a 4 out of 5-star official crash safety rating – added injury risk for you and your family. A U.S. News and World Report analysis listed limited highway passing power and the base model’s long charging time as other issues. Consumer Reports liked the low running costs and reliability. However, they did not like the 75-mile range, 16-hour charging time using 120 volts, high-pitched whine, poor agility, and limited crash test results. Economically, it only tied for 17th place and it’s not cheap with a base price of $28,980 to $35,020.
He made a personal decision, as he was willing to accept some problems and the less-than-optimal crash protection in exchange for a small environmental footprint. That’s the American way – consumer choice with reasonable protections.
The problem is that Measure J supporters do not want to allow you to choose your car; if their vision or lifestyle does not suit you, too bad. Many have septic systems that foul the earth while you pay $100 a month in sewer bills; they oppose oil operations because they can afford to.
Every barrel of imported oil, especially from OPEC, sends an immeasurable amount of American blood and a huge amount of American treasure overseas.
In 2012, we as a nation imported a net seven million barrels of oil every single day, four million (55%) from our OPEC friends alone; you know, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Libya, Venezuela, etc.
We paid foreign nations $432 billion for that oil ($49.4 million every hour around the clock). That enormous treasure is better off here funding American jobs in America than over there funding who knows what.
How would OPEC vote on Measure J? They would love it – combined with opposition to the industrial solar project from many of the same crowd, it should be called Measure OPEC.
Measure J will limit America’s energy independence, kill the county’s economic potential and discourage local jobs. If some Measure J supporters had their way, Hollister and its residents would simply disappear and San Juan would become Carmel.
It’s all bait and switch with Measure J unless you’re willing to buy their car and their lifestyle. We’re still Americans and it’s time to support our economy and energy independence; vote No on Measure J.
