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Environment

Unplugged

Will Taxpayers Foot the Oil Industry’s Cleanup Bill?

Unplugged oil and gas wells accelerate climate change, threaten public health and risk hitting taxpayers’ wallets. Money set aside to fix the problem covers less than 2% of the impending cost.

Impact of Our Reporting
Caret

Unplugged

California Bill Requiring Companies to Pay for Oil and Gas Well Cleanup in Limbo

The bill follows ProPublica’s reporting on the multibillion-dollar cost to clean up California’s oil and gas industry.

by Mark Olalde,

Oil Companies Must Set Aside More Money to Plug Wells, a New Rule Says. But It Won’t Be Enough.

by Mark Olalde, ProPublica, and Nick Bowlin, Capital & Main,

The Rising Cost of the Oil Industry’s Slow Death

by Mark Olalde, ProPublica, and Nick Bowlin, Capital & Main,

It Will Cost Up to $21.5 Billion to Clean Up California’s Oil Sites. The Industry Won’t Make Enough Money to Pay for It.

by Mark Olalde,

Big Oil Companies Are Selling Their Wells. Some Worry Taxpayers Will Pay to Clean Them Up.

by Mark Olalde,