Five years ago, a massive natural gas leak at Southern California Gas Company’s storage facility in California’s San Fernando Valley led to the evacuation of 8,000 families, approximately 25,000 people. The Aliso Canyon leak, as it is known, lasted 111 days and was finally capped on February 18, 2016. By then it has spewed about hundred thousand tons of methane into the atmosphere, making it the the largest natural gas leak disaster ever recorded in the U.S. and the first time a methane leak was visible from space. The leak impacted the health of many local residents and both Governor Brown and Govern Newson have promised to have the facility shut down. Yet, today the Aliso Canyon facility’s use has ramped up by some 3000 percent. compared to Governor Brown’s last two years in office. How did this come to pass?
Terra Verde host and Earth Island Journal editor Maureen Nandini Mitra talks with Alexandra Nagy, California director of Food and Water Watch and Matt Pakucko, president and co-founder of Save Porter Ranch, to learn more.