City of Camarillo
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Tuesday, May 12, 2026 03:33 PMPUBLIC COMMENTS
NOTICE
This is a public document and will be posted as part of the public record. Any attachments, pictures, and information submitted will be subject to disclosure in accordance with applicable law, including the Public Records Act.
City Council / Camarillo Sanitary
District / Camarillo Library Board
Meeting Date
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Planning Commission Meeting Date
Agency City Council / Camarillo Sanitary District / Camarillo Library Board
Item Type Agenda Item
Item Number or Subject R: Climate First: Replacing Oil and Gas Position Oppose
Comments Please see attached document as it is a pdf of my comment below for easier readability and sharing with City Council.
To: The Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Camarillo
Subject: Public Comment regarding Discussion Item: Climate First: Replacing Oil and Gas (CFROG) Resolution – A Proposal for Integrated Regional Resilience
Mayor and Councilmembers,
I am writing to share a perspective on the proposed “Climate First: Replacing Oil and Gas” resolution that seeks a more comprehensive and balanced path forward for our community.
We all share a deep concern for the future—as highlighted by the youth voices in this resolution—and a desire to mitigate the impacts of carbon emissions, extreme heat, and wildfires. I 1 believe we can achieve greater environmental and economic safety by adopting a strategy of Integrated Regional Resilience that prioritizes physical infrastructure and innovative technology over a premature permitting halt.
1. Fire Resilience and the Funding Paradox
The resolution links local oil production to the $200 million in damages caused by the November 2024 Mountain Fire.
However, we must distinguish between correlation and
causation. Halting local production does not address the immediate fuel loads, high-velocity winds, or land-management challenges that drive these fires.
In fact, removing the local industry that supports our tax base reduces the very funding required for the fire breaks,
windbreaks, and water infrastructure we need to survive future climate events. Our focus should be on using these local resources to build a "fire-hardened" county through the design of integrated hydrologic fire breaks—systems of swales and large ponds that hydrate the landscape and provide immediate water access for firefighters and planting native, fire-resistant windbreaks that can slow the spread of wind-driven embers, which were a major factor in the 19,904 acres burned in the Mountain Fire.
2. Innovative Assets: Repurposing Wells for Clean Energy Rather than treating the 2,367 idle and orphan wells solely as a liability, we should pursue regenerative ways to repurpose this existing infrastructure into clean energy assets:
• Geothermal Conversion: Existing wellbores are ready-made thermal conduits. Through closed-loop geothermal conversion, we can repurpose these sites to provide 24/7 baseload energy for our local grid or district heating for our buildings, turning a "methane risk" into a "clean energy asset" without the footprint of new drilling.
• Bio-filtration Mitigation: To address methane concerns, we can implement regenerative bio-filters using methanotrophic (methane-consuming) bacteria. This provides a natural,
biological solution to neutralize leaks as we transition these sites to new energy uses.
Research Resources for the Council:
• Geothermal Repurposing: Link: U.S. Department of Energy:
Wells of Opportunity (WOO) Initiative
• Methane Mitigation: CSU STRATA: Methanotrophic Bio-
Barriers for Methane Mitigation
3. Addressing the "Green Energy" Gap, California’s Supply, and Grid Reliability
The resolution calls for an immediate transition to renewable energy; however, we must acknowledge the current limitations of these technologies and the value of our local resources.
California contains roughly half of the nation's heavy oil, representing a significant untapped energy supply that can serve as a stabilized bridge during this transition. California’s grid has increasingly faced "Flex Alerts" and the threat of rolling 2 blackouts during peak demand.
• The Baseload Necessity: Unlike intermittent solar or wind, local oil production and the proposed geothermal conversions provide baseload power—reliable energy available 24/7.
Maintaining this local "bridge" is essential to prevent energy poverty and ensure our residents are not left without power during heatwaves.
• The Mining Paradox: The manufacturing of solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries requires intensive global mining for lithium and cobalt, which carries its own severe climate and environmental impacts often overlooked in local resolutions. • Cost-Effectiveness and Energy Poverty: Sustainable energy is not yet a cost-neutral replacement for the majority of our residents. Until renewable technology is truly cost-effective and reliable, local oil must serve as a "bridge" to prevent energy poverty in our community.
4. Understanding Regional Climate Drivers
While global trends are significant, local weather extremes in Ventura County are influenced by a complex web of factors where correlation does not always equal causation.
• The Urban Heat Island Effect: Increased local heat indexes correlate strongly with the expansion of asphalt and concrete in urban development, which traps heat far more effectively than industrial extraction sites.
• The Transport Footprint: California refines roughly 500 million barrels of oil annually to meet demand. If we curtail the 150 million produced locally, we do not stop the use; we simply shift the burden to international tankers. This reliance on maritime transport significantly increases the total pollutants entering our atmosphere compared to highly regulated local production.
5. Integrating Carbon-Sequestering Landscapes
We can improve public health and air quality by requiring the integration of high-capacity carbon-reduction plants within both industrial and residential development as well as near these oil sites:
• Strategic Green Belts: By planting native, fire-resistant, and high-sequestration species like California Live Oaks and other native riparian species within development footprints, we create a natural carbon sink that enhances the 3,200-ft safety buffers mentioned in the resolution.
• Balanced Land Use: This approach ensures that we do not have to choose between industry and the environment, but can instead mandate that they coexist through smarter, carbon- conscious land design.
Closing I ask the Council to consider a policy that evolves our energy sector rather than ending it prematurely. By focusing on geothermal repurposing, hydrologic fire breaks, and carbon- sequestering landscapes, we can protect the health of our residents while ensuring we have the economic resources to build a resilient future. Let us lead California with a model of innovation, physical safety, and fiscal responsibility.
Respectfully,
3 Jacob Anglin
Eagle & Lion Initiatives
[email protected]
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PDF Public_Comment_Camarillo_CFROG_… .pdf
IDENTIFICATION
Name Jacob Anglin
Address
Telephone
Email [email protected]
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