The Trump administration authorized a Houston-based offshore oil company to restart oil platforms off the coast of California, called the Santa Ynez Unit, which the state has aggressively fought as part of its overall hostility toward all oil and gas production. [some emphasis, links added]
While the governor and state lawmakers remain committed to their anti-fossil fuel policies that are driving away its oil and refining industry, the state is home to approximately 12% of the U.S. population, numerous key military facilities, a dozen shipping ports, and approximately 14% of the U.S. GDP.
What happens in California’s energy policy doesn’t stay in California, and the impacts on its economy can impact the nation’s.
With the impacts of its net-zero emissions policies potentially causing harm beyond California’s borders, President Donald Trump is asserting more control over the state.
California fights domestic oil, imports foreign oil
By some estimates, California has some of the largest oil reserves in the country, even more than Texas, according to the “Tuco’s Child Newsletter,” which cited two independent studies.
Over the years, as the state has tried to force consumers to transition to fossil-fuel alternatives, its oil production has declined to about one-quarter of the 1980s.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has boasted of his efforts to fight the state’s oil companies, and they responded, perhaps predictably, by leaving the state.
Two major refineries have closed, and Chevron relocated its headquarters to Texas. Newsom responded to the impending gasoline shortage by trying to work with the refiners to secure gasoline imports, which are more expensive and produce more carbon emissions.
The Santa Ynez Unit, operated by Sable Offshore Corporation, is three offshore oil platforms, an oil processing facility at Las Flores Canyon northwest of Santa Barbara, and associated pipelines.
It was shut down in 2015 and resumed limited production last year.
It has the potential to be one of the most productive offshore oil fields in the country, and it could lessen California’s self-created reliance on imports.
Newsom vowed he would fight to stop Sable from resuming full operations. He blamed Trump’s actions in Iran for high gasoline prices in his state.
He argued that the production from the Santa Ynez facility wouldn’t lower prices and accused the Trump administration of sacrificing California’s coastal environment and economy.
“Donald Trump started a war, admitted it would spike gas prices nationwide, and told Americans it was a small price to pay. Now he’s using this crisis of his own making to attempt what he’s wanted to do for years: open California’s coast for his oil industry friends so they can poison our beaches,” Newsom said in a statement, which included a picture of a baby seal covered in oil.
Read rest at Just The News
