Trump administration orders restart of oil drilling along California coast amid Iran war
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President Trump is asserting executive authority to demand the controversial resumption of offshore oil drilling along California’s coastline as gas prices soar amid the ongoing war with Iran.On Friday, Trump signed an executive order giving the Department of Energy the ability to use a Cold War-era law known as the Defense Production Act to accelerate oil and gas development.Energy Secretary Chris Wright quickly responded with an order directing Sable Offshore Corp.
to restore operations of the Santa Ynez Unit and Santa Ynez Pipeline System along the Santa Barbara County coast.“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,” Wright said in a statement.Gov.
Gavin Newsom blasted the action as “an attempt to illegally restart a pipeline whose operators are facing criminal charges and prohibited by multiple court orders from restarting.” He pledged legal action against the move.“Donald Trump started a war, admitted it would spike gas prices nationwide, and told Americans it was a small price to pay,” Newsom said.“Now he’s using this crisis of his own making to attempt what he’s wanted to do for years: open California’s coast for his oil industry friends so they can poison our beaches.” Business The sharp rise in gas and diesel prices due to the Iran war is quickly rippling through the world’s fourth-largest economy.Friday’s announcements seek to make good on previous threats from the Trump administration to force the resumption of offshore oil drilling in California.
They also follow years of effort from Houston-based Sable Offshore Corp.to revive dormant oil infrastructure along the Santa Barbara County coast.Environmental organizations, local residents and state poli...