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Residents of Porter Ranch are the latest Californian’s to
experience the hidden cost of fossil fuels. Aliso Canyon oil wells
that made many Californians wealthy in the last century expanded
their utility in the 1970’s to become the largest natural gas
storage facility west of the Mississippi. Seemed like it “was all
good” till last summer when the leak began (do we really know there
haven’t been others?).
So. Cal Gas says this storage facility serves most of Southern
California so the likelihood of immediate closure seems remote. If
any of the 110+ wells are leaking and all were built about the same
time, we can likely expect more in the future. More than 2000
residents were displaced while the company frantically worked to
seal it, a task just recently completed. Schools remain closed,
businesses suffered and all property owners will likely suffer a
permanent reduction in home values. To date no proposals to restore
homeowner’s lost value have been made. 
Since fossil fuel dependency and exploitation is the source of the
problem, one solution that would add value to homes is the
permanent termination of that dependency through installation of
rooftop solar on all homes and businesses with consideration of
wind power generators on the hillsides if it makes sense. 
Residents cannot move their homes. The best leak prevention is
removal of the hazardous gas. Tectonic factors present throughout
So. California cannot preclude future risk.  From the Gas Company’s
perspective, converting homeowners to renewable energy sources will
over 20+ years help mitigate some of the adverse climate effects of
the >100 metric tons of methane or more released before leak
closure. Rather than pay a fine to the government, conversion of
residents to renewables would simultaneously enhance home values
and reduce greenhouse gas production consistent with State goals.
Homeowners deserve fair compensation for their suffering present
and future and the planet needs us to get off fossil fuels. 

To my understanding the SCAQMD passed a unanimous resolution
indicating “to the extent feasible, to mitigation projects for the
benefit of Porter Ranch residents”. This proposal would fulfill
this goal.