Yet another win! The Phillips 66 crude-by-rail proposal for its Nipomo refinery in Santa Maria has been rejected in a 3-2 vote by the San Luis Obispo County Planning Commission.
SLO Stop Oil Trains Campaign spokeswoman Heidi Harmon said, “The San Luis Obispo County Planning Commission listened to the people of this community, who overwhelmingly oppose this oil trains project. Our community is ready to move beyond dangerous oil projects and towards a clean energy economy that works for all of us.” She added, “Should this project be appealed, we expect the Board of Supervisors to follow the Planning Commission’s lead and reject this project once and for all.”
The October 5th vote is a huge victory for tireless oil train activists and communities up and down the state. The decision comes after a nearly three-year review process, with more than 20,000 Californians opposing the project, and more than 45 cities, counties and school boards sending letters urging the planning commission to deny it.