Grove invites Trump to Kern County to talk domestic energy production

President Donald Trump wants the nation to boost its domestic oil production, a sector that plays a major role in Kern County.

State Sen. Shannon Grove (R–Bakersfield) has asked President Donald Trump to visit Kern County to get a first hand look at the heart of California’s oil industry. 

Grove sent a letter to Trump on Tuesday with the formal invitation, which came one day after he returned to the White House for his second term. 

Driving the news: Over 70% of California’s oil is produced in Kern County, while over half of the state’s renewable energy also comes from the region. 

  • But the oil industry has long been a target of Sacramento, with the state importing around 60% of the oil it uses from other countries. That number was below 5% in the early 1990s. 
  • Gov. Gavin Newsom has also taken on the oil industry through a new mandate that he signed into law last year. His mandate requires oil refiners to keep a minimum reserve on hand at all times, which he argues will protect the state from spikes in gas prices. 
  • The California Energy Commission also now has the power to require refiners to play for resupply during maintenance outages. 

What she’s saying: Grove wrote in her letter to Trump that his executive order to expand domestic fuel production is a pivotal step toward ensuring the nation’s energy security. 

  • “This reliance on foreign oil is especially concerning as Governor Newsom and the state’s majority party are intending to end the existence of the oil industry through regulation and withholding permits,” Grove wrote. “These policies jeopardize thousands of jobs, undermine our energy independence, and increase reliance on regimes that do not share our values or adhere to the same stringent environmental standards.” 
  • Grove said one of her top priorities has been to increase domestic oil production and to bring awareness to the unethical practices in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Brazil and Ecuador. 
  • “Your leadership has already demonstrated a clear commitment to reversing these trends and unleashing the full potential of American energy,” Grove wrote. “Kern County stands ready to play a key role in this effort, with untapped reserves and an infrastructure capable of supporting increased production. A visit from you would spotlight the critical contributions of this region, the misguided policies of the state’s current Administration, and emphasize the importance of increasing domestic energy production in California and nationwide.” 
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