A bipartisan coalition of state legislators, environmental advocates launched at the California State Capitol a unified front against a federal proposal to expand offshore oil and gas drilling; emergency permit granted to Sable Offshore Corp.
SACRAMENTO, CA, January 08, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- A Bipartisan Defense of the California Coast
On January 6, 2026, the rally in Sacramento focused on a draft federal 5-year offshore drilling plan that proposes opening nearly the entire California coast to oil and gas leasing, potentially ending a 40-year moratorium. Assemblymember Addis emphasized that the opposition is not a matter of partisan politics, but of state survival.
"Our coastline is the crown jewel of California," Addis stated. "We are here to say with one voice—Republican, Democrat, and Independent—that our shores are not for sale."
Addis used the event to highlight her recently introduced Save Our Shores Act (AB 1536), which aims to strengthen state-level protections and restrict the infrastructure necessary for federal drilling to operate within state waters.
Economic Interests vs. Oil Risks
Speakers highlighted the severe economic imbalance between the benefits of a healthy ocean and the risks of fossil fuel extraction. Tourism and recreation currently account for 47% of the state's coastal economic output, providing ten times the economic value of offshore oil.
"California's marine economy relies on clean water and a healthy environment," said Grant Bixby of the Business Alliance for Protecting the Pacific Coast. "Opening our waters to drilling isn't just an environmental threat; it's a direct attack on half a million jobs that depend on a pristine coastline."
Financial Unraveling and Legal Investigations
The opposition has been further fueled by the controversial federal emergency permit granted to Sable Offshore Corp. (SOC) to restart the Santa Ynez Unit pipelines. Advocates warn that the aging infrastructure, which caused the 1969 and 2015 disasters, remains a ticking time bomb. However, the crisis is no longer just environmental—it has become a focal point of financial and legal scrutiny.
This regulatory quagmire and Sable's financial unraveling have triggered a wave of legal actions. Two major investor law firms—Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC and Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP—have launched investigations into allegations of securities fraud and misleading disclosures. Shareholders who acquired SOC stock before May 21, 2025, are encouraged to visit www.bgandg.com/SOC and Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC Encourages Sable Offshore Corp (SOC) Shareholders to Inquire About Securities Investigation (https://fox40.com/business/press-releases/accesswire/1079603/bronstein-gewirtz-grossman-llc-encourages-sable-offshore-corp-soc-shareholders-to-inquire-about-securities-investigation/). The ongoing Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP probe zeroes in on the pipeline repair halt. (INVESTOR ALERT: Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Investigates Claims on Behalf of Investors of Sable Offshore: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250909476010/en/INVESTOR-ALERT-Faruqi-Faruqi-LLP-Investigates-Claims-on-Behalf-of-Investors-of-Sable-Offshore).
The "Blue Wall" of Resistance
Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) and other speakers reinforced the concept of the "Blue Wall"—a series of zoning ordinances across 26 cities and counties designed to block onshore support facilities for offshore drilling.
"We have the legal and local tools to ensure that even if the federal government leases our waters, they will have nowhere to land their oil," Senator Laird remarked. The coalition also pointed to a recent Santa Barbara County Court decision that declined Sable's request to lift an injunction, keeping the dangerous pipelines dormant for now.
Public Participation Urged
The coalition concluded the rally with an urgent call to action. The federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has opened a public comment period on the drilling proposal, with a deadline of January 23rd.
"This is the moment for all Californians to stand up for the places they love," Addis concluded. "We must drown out the noise of the oil lobby with the voices of the people."
Video Coverage: Addis and State Electeds Oppose Federal Offshore Oil Drilling:
https://www.youtube.com/live/86REg59n0rs?si=xF95hek-hNMYe_QZ
This video provides a direct record of the bipartisan rally and the specific legislative strategies being used to protect the California coastline.
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