With elected officials and energy experts buzzing about the potential for a major boom in oil production from California’s Monterey Shale, little attention has been given to the risk that a new oil boom could undermine the state’s plans for addressing climate change.

Next Generation researcher Robert Collier investigates the risks of hydrofluoric acid, a chemical which may be the key to unlocking the Monterey Shale and developing its vast oil deposits.

Acidizing is a powerful oil production technique that could lead to an oil boom in California's Monterey Shale, but little is known about its potential risks.

15.4 billion barrels of oil in the Monterey Shale could set off a new black gold rush in California. Next Generation is exploring the implications for our state's economy and climate.