Surfrider Santa Cruz is currently discussing the opposition of offshore drilling at a local level, but the reality is much broader. Ocean ecosystems are connected, energy markets are national and global, and the risks of offshore drilling do not stop at city or state lines. As part of a national organization, we oppose offshore drilling anywhere along the U.S. coastline for these reasons.
At the same time, the most effective way people can shape outcomes is at the local level. Communities have authority over what gets built on their shores, and when local governments act together, those decisions add up to a larger impact.
Today, the United States is a net exporter of oil, producing more petroleum than we consume overall. Federal data also show that oil companies currently hold thousands of approved oil and gas leases that are not being developed, including offshore leases. New offshore drilling would take many years to come online, and federal and independent analyses consistently show that gasoline prices are driven by global markets, not by opening new drilling areas.
As we learn more about the long‑term impacts of fossil fuel extraction on climate, oceans, and communities, it’s clear that progress depends on adapting and investing in cleaner, renewable, and more sustainable energy sources.
The federal government is considering a new plan that could allow offshore oil drilling in California waters (and not only in California, but along all U.S. coasts) in the future. This plan comes from the U.S. Department of the Interior and looks at leasing ocean areas for oil and gas development.
Even though drilling happens offshore, it can’t work without land support–things like pipelines, processing plants, storage yards, and service facilities on the coast.
That’s where local communities come in.
The Blue Wall is a group of local laws passed by coastal cities and counties across California. These laws stop or limit onshore facilities that support offshore oil drilling.
No land support = no drilling.
Right now, 27 coastal communities are part of the Blue Wall, including Capitola. Together, these laws form a strong, connected defense along the coast.
Capitola passed its own Blue Wall law back in 1987, and it’s actually one of the strongest ones–it completely bans onshore facilities that support offshore oil drilling.
But that law is nearly 40 years old.
At the January 22 City Council meeting, Capitola City Council will:
Federal offshore drilling is decided by the federal government, but strong local laws can block the onshore facilities drilling depends on–making it very difficult or impossible to carry out in practice.
Oil companies need places on land to operate. When coastal cities work together and say “not here,” it creates a wall they can’t get through.
That’s why California’s coast is so powerful when it acts together–and why every single city matters.
📅 Thursday, January 22
⏰ 6:00 PM
📍 Capitola City Hall – 420 Capitola Ave