In a twist from the reputation the state of California has when it comes to targeting the oil and gas industry, legislators made a surprise move over the weekend by passing a bill to allow construction of 2,000 new oil wells a year in the San Joaquin Valley.
It was reported to be approval of a last-minute bill to bring stability to the state’s struggling crude-oil refineries. But the bill also continues with restrictions to keep the wells from being drilled along the coastline.
Senate Bill 237 was part of a deal on climate and environmental issues brokered behind closed doors by Gov. Gavin Newsom, state Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg) and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) reported the Los Angles Times. It also was created as California faces the planned shutdown of two of the state’s 13 refineries.
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