California lawmakers introduced a last-minute deal that would streamline environmental approvals for up to 2,000 new wells annually in oil-rich Kern County, while tightening the regulatory requirements for offshore drilling. The looming closure of two California refineries has become a sore spot for Gov. Gavin Newsom and for California Democrats, pitting their longtime clean-energy goals against concerns about the rising cost of living.
"It's alarming that no agency comprehensively looked at the environmental risks of restarting this aging, corroded pipeline, and that Sable steamrolled over orders to halt construction."