CIPA Urges the City of Los Angeles to Conduct a Full Economic, Environmental Review

Last week, CIPA spokesperson Hector Barajas addressed the Los Angeles City Planning Committee, urging them to reconsider a proposed ordinance that would end domestic oil production in the city.

Barajas, a Los Angeles native, spoke on behalf of CIPA’s 300 independent oil producers and 55,000 energy workers. He delivered a message that the ordinance was a flawed policy and would lead to long-term harm if passed without a full Economic and Environmental Impact Report.

“Californians use 1.8 million barrels of oil every day. If we don’t produce it here, we import it, often from places with little to no labor and environmental protections,” Barajas told the committee. “California now imports more oil from the Amazon rainforest than it produces at home. All in the name of climate change.”

He highlighted how cutting local production could actually increase pollution by sending more foreign tankers through the Port of Los Angeles, which is already the region’s largest source of pollution.

Beyond fuel, Barajas emphasized the role of petroleum in everyday products, including medical devices such as heart valves, asphalt, and components for electric vehicles. “What message are we sending to the over 100,000 patients who rely on heart valve replacements each year?” he asked.

He also called out the state’s policy reversals in Sacramento as a cautionary tale. “They messed up. Don’t repeat those mistakes here.”

Barajas closed with a clear request: “Do the right thing. Require a full Economic and Environmental Impact Report. Get the facts. Do not leave this mistake for others to fix.”