FACT BRIEF

Is Gov. Newsom facing pressure to move faster to reduce California’s oil production?

Thursday, February 4, 2021

By Eleanor Hicks-Green

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YES

As a candidate for governor in 2018 Gavin Newsom vowed that California would continue to lead the way with its environmental policies, including its shift to renewable energy. Since he took office the state’s monthly oil output has continued to decline, down by about 20% in Nov. 2020 from Jan. 2018.

Two advocacy groups have claimed that the state expanded drilling significantly during the first half of 2020. A state official told the Associated Press that the groups misinterpreted the data, and that new drilling permits increased 7%. The state is issuing more permits to seal old wells than to drill new wells, he said.

Advocates are also urging the state to move more quickly to ban certain higher-risk drilling techniques. The Los Angeles Times reports that about 1% of the state's 61,682 active wells use hydraulic fracking, which Newsom has said the state should act to phase out by 2024.

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Sources

Ballotpedia Ballotpedia: California gubernatorial election, 2018—Newsom campaign platform

Energy Information Administration: California monthly crude oil production

AP News: Approvals for new oil and gas wells up in California

CISION| PR Newswire PR Newswire: Permits to drill new oil and gas wells zoom up in first six months of 2020

Los Angeles Times: Can California ban fracking? Newsom’s bold plan to fight climate change faces skepticism

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