Environmental Defense Center

SACRAMENTO, CA, September 23, 2020 — Today, CA Governor Gavin Newsom announced an Executive Order to fight climate change in response to deadly wildfires raging throughout the state. Climate, environmental justice, and public health advocates with the Last Chance Alliance laud the bold steps by the Governor to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035, […]

Santa Barbara County, CA, Sept. 17, 2019 — Today, the Environmental Defense Center (“EDC”) on behalf of California Trout, Inc. (“CalTrout”) secured a major victory for Southern California steelhead on the Santa Ynez River in Santa Barbara County. After nearly 20 years of working together to compel the State Water Resources Control Board (“the Board”) […]

Santa Barbara, CA, May 16, 2019 – May 19 marks the four-year anniversary of the 2015 Plains All American Pipeline Refugio Oil Spill that released more than 140,000 gallons of heavy crude along 150 miles of the California Coast, from Gaviota to the Channel Islands, and as far south as Orange County. The spill closed […]

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. March 18, 2019 – The partners in an initiative to cut air pollution and protect endangered whales announced results from the 2018 program and recognized the 12 shipping companies that participated, reducing speeds to 10 knots or less in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Santa Barbara Channel region. The voluntary […]

Los Angeles, Nov. 9, 2018—A federal judge issued an order today declaring that the federal government violated environmental protection laws when it approved permits for fracking and acidizing (otherwise referred to as “well stimulation treatments,” or “WSTs”) from platforms offshore California. The judge agreed with the Environmental Defense Center (“EDC”) and Santa Barbara Channelkeeper (“SBCK”) […]

SACRAMENTO, Aug. 30, 2018 — As the federal government prepares to release a revised offshore drilling plan that could open up Pacific waters to oil and gas drilling for the first time in 30 years, California legislators today sent the Trump administration a clear and loud message: Not on our watch, and not through our […]

Santa Barbara, CA, Jan. 4, 2018 – Today, in a move strongly opposed by the Environmental Defense Center (“EDC”), the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (“BOEM”) released the 2019-2024 Outer Continental Shelf Draft Proposed Plan, which schedules lease sales along the California coast, including the Santa Barbara Channel. This is the first time the federal […]

OXNARD, Oct. 18, 2017 – After a three-year battle by residents and advocates to defeat fossil fuel giant NRG Energy’s proposed power plant in the City of Oxnard, NRG filed a motion to suspend proceedings by the California Energy Commission (“CEC”). The motion comes on the heels of a statement issued by CEC Commissioners Janea […]

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. October 2, 2017 – Environmental groups rejoiced as Phillips 66 agreed to dismiss its lawsuit challenging the denial of its proposed Rail Spur Project by the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors. The dismissal means that the County’s denial stands, and Phillips will not be able to import heavy tar […]

SANTA BARBARA, July 17, 2017 – The federal court in Los Angeles issued an order ruling that the Environmental Defense Center (“EDC”) and Santa Barbara Channelkeeper (“Channelkeeper”) prevailed against the federal government’s effort to dismiss their case.  In November 2016, the groups filed a lawsuit challenging the failure of the federal government to analyze and […]