Report Reveals the “Monterey Shale” as Major New Source of Climate Disruption

Sacramento, CA-- A new report released by the Sierra Club names the “Monterey Shale” as one of several major potential sources of carbon pollution that, if developed, could dramatically alter the world's climate.

Data shows that the oil, gas and coal from these new sources, including the Arctic Ocean, the Green River Formation, the Powder River Basin, and the Monterey, San Juan Basin, and Marcellus shale plays, have the potential to release billions of tons of new carbon pollution into the atmosphere, more than negating positive climate actions taken by the Obama administration.

"It’s common sense that we can't reduce climate pollution if we keep burning fossil fuels," said Dan Chu, Director of the Sierra Club's Our Wild America campaign. "This report clearly shows that real progress to fight climate disruption requires that dirty fuels be kept in the ground."

As the report details, developing just a fraction of the dirty energy in these major climate disrupters would cancel out the United States' greatest accomplishments in the fight against climate disruption-- efforts like the Obama administration's new fuel economy standards. Developing the Monterey Shale, for example, would result in more than 6 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions that would otherwise be saved by CAFE standards.

Already, through administrative actions and by doubling down on clean energy, the Obama administration has done more than any other to reduce carbon pollution. For the first time in 20 years, domestic carbon dioxide emissions are decreasing. An effective climate strategy however, requires that these steps be accompanied by efforts to leave dirty fuels in the ground. Several such pragmatic steps are outlined in the report.

Among the steps highlighted in the report is a call for California to implement a statewide moratorium on shale oil extraction that uses extreme extraction techniques such as “fracking” and acid stimulation, both on and offshore, until it can be proven that these activities can be done without harming public health and the environment.

On April 8th in the California State Senate, the Senate’s Natural Resources and Water Committee voted in favor of SB 1132, co- authored by Senator Holly Mitchell and Senator Mark Leno. That bill would ensure thorough analysis of fracking’s impact on California’s environment and public health occurs before fracking and well stimulation expands. It will also signal to investors that that there are other, cleaner energy projects worth supporting.

"We should not be sacrificing even more of our state, including our precious coastal communities and environment to dirty fuel development," said Sierra Club Coastal Organizer, Mike Thornton. "Instead we should be taking advantage of available clean energy options that will create jobs, protect public health and fight climate disruption."


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About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 2.4 million members and supporters nationwide. In addition to creating opportunities for people of all ages, levels and locations to have meaningful outdoor experiences, the Sierra Club works to safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and litigation. For more information, visit http://www.sierraclub.org.