President Donald Trump reignited an energy dispute with California, emphasizing an executive order to restart the Sable Pipeline and expand offshore oil production.
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office referred to previous press releases on the matter. Newsom accused Trump of initiating a crisis to benefit oil industry interests at the expense of California’s coastal economy.
Executive Action Targeting Sable Pipeline Restart
A Truth Social post by Trump highlighted an executive order allowing the Department of Energy (DOE) to restart the Sable Pipeline using the Defense Production Act. The plan aims to produce an additional 50,000 barrels of oil per day, increasing California’s offshore oil output by 550 percent.
Statements in the post claim the pipeline will supply 50 military installations with 20 million barrels annually, countering California’s climate regulations. DOE announced in March that Energy Secretary Chris Wright directed Sable Offshore Corp. to restore operations citing national defense needs. Wright stated this would enhance America’s oil supply crucial to national security. The facility aims to add 15 percent to California’s oil production, replacing 1.5 million barrels of foreign crude monthly.
Newsom and West Coast Governors’ Opposition
The dispute escalates as Trump eyes expanding offshore drilling. Newsom called Trump’s drilling plans “dead on arrival” in California, promising legal challenges if finalized.
Trump’s administration unveiled a five-year plan with six offshore lease sales along California’s coast and additional sales off Florida and Alaska. California consistently resists new drilling, viewing Trump’s proposal as a reckless coastal threat.
In January, Newsom and governors from Oregon and Washington opposed oil lease sales off California’s coast due to risks to economies and ecosystems. Legal challenges are underway against the pipeline restart. Attorney General Rob Bonta, assisted by state agencies, contests federal oversight shifts of the Las Flores pipelines. Environmental groups, such as the Environmental Defense Center and Earthjustice, support California’s resistance, as reported by the Santa Barbara Independent.
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