Rep. David Valadao (R–Hanford) is leading lawmakers to push California Gov. Gavin Newsom for answers on the state’s efforts to end all oil and gas production.
Valadao led members of the California Republican delegation in a letter to Newsom pushing the state to reverse course.
The big picture: Joining Valadao with the letter were Reps. Vince Fong (R–Bakersfield), Ken Calvert (R–Corona), John Duarte (R–Modesto), Jay Obernolte (R–Hesperia), Young Kim (R–Anaheim Hills).
- California has historically had a significant oil and gas industry, with the industry contributing over $80 million in property taxes in fiscal year 2018-2019 in Kern County, over $103 million for local school districts and over $12 million for local special districts.
- The oil and gas industry was responsbile for 25,000 direct, indirect and induced energy-related jobs in 2020 in Kern County.
The backstory: Newsom’s office published a press release in April 2021 announcing the goal to end all oil production in the state by 2045.
What they’re saying: The lawmakers told Newsom that they have “grave concerns” with his policies and their implications for national security.
- They said California’s military installations will be entirely dependent on foreign fuels by the mid-century.
- “California’s crude oil refining capacity is lower than oever, with only nine remaining refineries for the transportation fuels California military bases need to function properly,” the letter reads. “If more refineries shut down in Califronia, there could be significant disruptions to the effectiveness of our military bases in the state of California.”
- The lawmakers also called Newsom’s goal to end all oil production and rely on imported crude oil “fiscally and environmentally irresponsible.”
- “While we are aware of the administration’s desire to transition to electricity, there must be a balance that ensures the infrastructure and technological upgrades are in place to meet the demand,” the letter reads. “Vastly reducing California’s energy production without a stable electrical grid in place will significantly impact small businesses, our military, and our low-income residents the most.”
What we’re watching: The lawmakers posed the following four questions to Newsom, requesting answers by Sep. 1:
- What strategies are in place to ensure a reliable supply chain for energy resources critical to military installations during the transition period away from oil and gas?
- How is your administration planning to transition the nearly 55,000 oil and gas industry jobs in California?
- How is your administration justifying the GHG “leakage” that the California Air Resources Board is required to avoid per The Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32)?
- What is your administration doing to protect vulnerable middle and lower income families from price spikes at the gas pump as you transition California into a state that is 100 percent dependent upon more expensive foreign oil?
Newsom responds: A spokesperson for Newsom’s office responded to the letter, saying Republicans will do anything for their Big Oil donors and that gas prices in California are the lowest they have been in three years.
- “At the same time, the Department of Defense has elevated climate change as a national security priority and outlined the strategic need for clean energy – both of which California is leading on and providing the innovations that our military partners will utilize for our country’s national security.”
