Oil on Rails

In the next two years the number of rail cars carrying oil into the Bay Area is forecast to increase 20-fold to 200,000. Five refineries in the East Bay process heavy crude oil and some are planning to bring in oil from the Canadian tar sands. That oil is dirtier than conventional crude and poses less of a concern about exploding rail cars. Oil from North Dakota, which is also coming into the Bay Area, has a smaller carbon impact. It is also combusts more easily and raises safety worries in communities along the railways.

How will more oil transported on railcars impact the Bay Area economy and environment? Can California be a climate leader while bringing in more heavy crude and possibly exporting it? Is it hypocritical of Bay Area residents to use fossil fuels but not want them transported or processed in their backyards?

Join us for a conversation about rail and climate safety.

John Avalos, Member, Bay Area Air Quality Management District
Jess Dervin-Ackerman, Sierra Club San Francisco Bay Chapter
Molly Samuel, Reporter, KQED Science

Location: The Commonwealth Club, SF Club Office, 595 Market Street, Second Floor, San Francisco
Time: 11:30 a.m. check-in, 12 p.m. program, 1 p.m. networking reception

Also know: The speakers and audience will be videotaped for future broadcast on the Climate One TV show on KRCB TV 22 on Comcast and DirecTV.

This program is generously underwritten by the San Francisco Foundation.