Governor Newsom’s recent Executive Order ignores the consequences of pushing energy policies ahead of our energy reality.

Policies in the Ventura County General Plan update will lead to increased oil imports, driving carbon emissions far higher than what would occur under local production.

Unnecessary regulatory changes would force ongoing, safe oil production operations to re-apply for existing permits in front of the Board of Supervisors, increasing costs, discouraging investments, and killing good-paying jobs.

State and local officials claim to be focused on ending poverty, but their actions raise household costs and cut jobs for working families.

Half of all low-income workers have lost their jobs or faced reduced wages, but officials continue to pursue policies that will eliminate more good-paying jobs in the region.

While activists continue to call for California to keep its energy resources in the ground, all levels of government have declared the oil and natural gas supply chain as critical infrastructure necessary to power essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Economic growth in the region is being driven by manufacturing – and access to reliable, affordable energy supplies.

State agencies in Sacramento have moved to restrict in-state production, forcing California – which already imports 70% of the oil it uses every day – to depend even more heavily on foreign sources of oil.

Los Angeles increasingly faces an affordability crisis. As leaders consider shutting down oil production, can the city really afford policies that will increase household costs even further?