In brief
On Friday, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright ordered the Texas-based Sable Offshore Corp. to restart operations of its Santa Ynez unit off the coast of California, citing national energy security concerns. The decision, made under the Defense Production Act, aims to mitigate supply disruptions by restoring crucial oil production capabilities that the administration argues are vital for U.S. military readiness. This move has been met with strong opposition from California Governor Gavin Newsom, who labeled the directive as illegal and harmful to the state's environmental standards and economy. California is currently engaged in legal responses against this federal order, emphasizing its regulatory rights over coastal operations.
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright directed a Texas-based oil and gas company Friday to restore operations in waters off southern California that were damaged by a 2015 oil spill, invoking the Defense Production Act.
Restoring Sable Offshore Corp.’s Santa Ynez unit and pipeline off Santa Barbara aims to address supply disruption risks, according to a department news release. The unit includes three rigs in federal waters, offshore and onshore pipelines, and the Las Flores Canyon Processing Facility. The facility can produce about 50,000 barrels of oil per day and would replace nearly 1.5 million barrels of foreign crude each month, officials said.
“The Trump Administration remains committed to putting all Americans and their energy security first,” Wright said in a statement. “Unfortunately, some state leaders have not adhered to those same principles, with potentially disastrous consequences not just for their residents, but also our national security. Today’s order will strengthen America’s oil supply and restore a pipeline system vital to our national security and defense, ensuring that West Coast military installations have the reliable energy critical to military readiness.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom condemned the move. “This is an attempt to illegally restart a pipeline whose operators are facing criminal charges and prohibited by multiple court orders from restarting,” Newsom said in a statement. “California will not stand by while the Trump administration attempts to sacrifice our coastal communities, our environment, and our $51 billion coastal economy.” He added, “We will see them back in court.”
In January, California sued the federal government for approving Sable’s plans to restart pipelines along the coast. Democratic state Attorney General Rob Bonta stated that California oversees the pipelines through Santa Barbara and Kern counties and the federal government “has no right to usurp California’s regulatory authority.”
