Environmentalists declared victory early Wednesday on a nationally watched campaign to ban fracking, the controversial oil-drilling technique, along with all new oil drilling, in Monterey County.
Despite being outspent roughly 30-1 by Chevron, Aera Energy and industry supporters, backers of Measure Z said they had sent a message with their effort, which passed by 56 to 44 percent.
“David beat Goliath in Monterey County’s stunning victory against oil industry pollution,” said Kassie Siegel, director of the Center for Biological Diversity’s Climate Law Institute.