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At a time when the United States is producing more oil than ever, proposals to expand offshore drilling along California’s coast are unnecessary and out of step with the needs of coastal communities. Since 2020, the U.S. has been a net oil exporter, and production reached record highs in 2024 without opening new federal waters (EIA.gov). Oil companies already hold millions of acres of unused offshore leases. Expanding drilling will not lower gas prices or strengthen energy security; it will only deepen reliance on fossil fuels while increasing risks to our oceans and local economies.
Offshore drilling begins with seismic blasting, which sends powerful sound waves through the water that can injure marine life and disrupt feeding and migration. Routine operations release pollution, and oil spills remain an unavoidable reality. Since 1969, dozens of major offshore spills in U.S. waters have caused long-lasting environmental and economic damage.
The stakes are especially high for us. Santa Cruz County sits beside the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, one of the most biologically rich marine ecosystems in the world. These waters support fisheries, kelp forests, marine wildlife, tourism and outdoor recreation that drive a coastal economy worth tens of billions of dollars annually.
Clean beaches and healthy oceans sustain small businesses, jobs, and community well-being.
An oil spill here would be devastating, shutting down fisheries, harming tourism, damaging wildlife and potentially altering the coastline for decades. Even without a spill, the industrial infrastructure required for drilling would disrupt scenic coastlines, recreation and quality of life.
Right now, public input matters. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has opened a fast-tracked public comment period through Feb. 26, allowing oil companies to nominate potential drilling sites near Santa Cruz and the Central Coast. Residents can make a difference by speaking to the risks drilling poses to marine habitats, local economies, public health, and climate stability.
Groups like Surfrider Santa Cruz are helping community members participate.
California’s coastline is not expendable. It is an ecological treasure, an economic engine and a shared public resource. Offshore drilling is both unnecessary and risky. The responsible path is to protect our coast, invest in clean energy and say no to new offshore drilling.
Morganna Johnson
Surfrider Santa Cruz