Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
Milestone Reached In Inglewood Oil Phaseout
An oil pumpjack near homes in the Inglewood Oil Field, Los Angeles, California.
(
Gary Kavanagh
/
iStockphoto
)
Topline:
Culver City has reached a settlement with oil operator Sentinel Peak Resources to completely phase out oil drilling and plug old wells within the city’s portion of the Inglewood Oil Field by 2029. More than 1 million people live within five miles of the oil field.
The context: Culver City oversees about 78 acres of the 1,000-acre Inglewood oil field, the largest urban oil field in the U.S. The city passed an ordinance in 2021 to phase out all drilling by 2026, but that deadline was extended three years to 2029 as part of the settlement to avoid litigation. The rest of the Inglewood Oil Field is overseen by L.A. County, which passed an ordinance earlier this year to end new oil drilling and phase out existing drilling within 20 years.
Why it matters: Studies have shown that people who live near oil drilling — both active and inactive — are more susceptible to health issues such as asthma and cancer. At a global scale, oil and gas extraction and burning those fossil fuels for electricity and transportation is the single-largest cause of human-driven climate change.
What’s next: Under the settlement agreement, Culver City could extend the deadline under certain circumstances, but not beyond 2032. Both Los Angeles and L.A. County have faced legal challenges by oil operators in response to their phaseout ordinances. California, the nation’s 7th-largest oil-producing state, aims to phase out 90% of oil drilling by 2045.
Go Deeper:
Idle Oil Wells Are A Problem For Health And Climate. Who Should Pay For Cleaning Them Up?
Sponsored message
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
