A fruitless hunt for wisdom in our current energy policies

As Gov. Newsom addressed California residents in the annual State of the State, he seemed to skirt some big issues plaguing the state, but he didn’t miss the opportunity to double down on his recent and harmful energy policies restricting California energy production.

In reaction to numerous public bipartisan calls from state legislators and members of Congress urging the governor to increase domestic oil production as tensions overseas push gas prices to record highs, Newsom said, “Our approach is to be neither indifferent to the realities of the present day, nor revert to heavy-handed policies that have marked the failures of the past.”

Unfortunately, the state’s policies do exactly what the governor says he is trying to avoid.

Kern County, the seventh-highest oil-producing region in the nation, has the cleanest and most regulated operations in the world.

The Newsom Administration’s energy policies intended to protect the environment do just the opposite — and come with a whole host of horrendous consequences for our climate, consumers, Kern County residents, and the state economy.

The restriction of domestic oil and gas production is flat out bad environmental policy. Kern County, the seventh-highest oil-producing region in the nation, has the cleanest and most regulated operations in the world. We know that imported oil comes from countries that do not share our national and state commitment to environmental protections.

California’s illegal denying of energy permits requires oil produced in other countries to be transported to California from across the world by ships, increasing greenhouse gas emissions rather than reducing them.

California consumers are also being hit hard by the state’s refusal to allow energy production. Forcing Californians to buy foreign oil at higher prices rather than taking advantage of our own resources is completely misguided and nonsensical. Shutting down Kern County oil production is not reducing the use of petroleum products; it is only raising the price of gasoline for consumers and further impacting the environment.

Don’t we have a responsibility to increase our domestic production, so Russia does not profit from the misery they are inflicting on the Ukrainian people?

Governor Newsom’s policy of relying on foreign oil rather than domestic oil sets a terrible and potentially devastating example for other states across this great nation. Moreover, his refusal to assist the nation in replacing Russian oil will harm our allies and the people of Ukraine, as it only makes the world more reliant on Russian oil.

Lastly, it would be remiss not to mention the humanitarian impacts that come with California’s current energy policies. How can California stand by and allow Russian oil profits to fund their destruction of Ukraine? Don’t we have a responsibility to increase our domestic production, so Russia does not profit from the misery they are inflicting on the Ukrainian people?

Governor Newsom should reconsider his position and face the problems of today. His policies restricting oil production are heavy-handed and do not factor in the realities of energy shortages and the war in Ukraine.

As the crisis overseas continues and oil prices surge here at home, the Governor must restore energy production in Kern County. In doing so, he will provide the state and nation with a more reliable and environmentally conscious supply of oil, finally allowing California to be the leader he touts as we do our part to provide assistance to the global community.
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Editor’s Note: Supervisor Zack Scrivner is a Kern County supervisor representing the 2nd District.

 

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