The Trump administration has ordered the restart of oil operations offshore California to boost energy security and reduce dependence on foreign oil as fuel prices rise following the Iran conflict.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order allowing the Energy Secretary to take action under the Defense Production Act to address potential supply disruptions.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright then ordered Sable Offshore Corp. resume operations at the Santa Ynez Unit and the Santa Ynez Pipeline System off the California coast.
The administration cites energy security and military preparedness
In announcing the decision, Wright said the move was necessary to protect the nation’s energy security and ensure a reliable supply of fuel for military installations along the West Coast.
“The Trump administration remains committed to putting all Americans and their energy security first,” Wright said.
“Unfortunately, some state officials are not following the same principles, with potentially disastrous consequences not only for their residents, but also for our national security.”
He added that the order will help boost U.S. oil supplies and restore a key pipeline network used to deliver oil to refineries.
“Today’s order will strengthen America’s oil supply and restore a pipeline system vital to our national security and defense, and ensure that military installations on the West Coast have the reliable power necessary for military readiness,” Wright said.
Increasing production and reducing dependence on foreign oil
The Santa Ynez facility, operated by Sable Offshore, has the capacity to produce about 50,000 barrels of oil per day, which would increase California’s state oil production by about 15 percent, according to the administration.
Officials say this additional production could replace nearly 1.5 million barrels of imported oil each month.
California currently imports more than 60 percent of the oil refined in the state, much of it from overseas sources, according to a note from the Department of Energy. Some shipments pass through the strategically sensitive Strait of Hormuz, a key global hub for oil transit.
The administration says this reliance exposes state and U.S. military operations to potential geopolitical disruption.
Prioritize pipeline capacity
The order also prioritizes pipeline capacity so that crude oil produced in coastal California can move through the Las Flores pipeline system to Pentland Station before entering interstate pipeline networks.
Officials say it would allow American-produced oil to reach domestic refineries more efficiently while reducing dependence on imported oil.
California’s refining system is relatively isolated from the interstate pipelines used elsewhere in the United States, making the state more dependent on seaborne imports.
Newsom pushes away
California Governor Gavin Newsom sharply criticized the federal decision, accusing the administration of prioritizing oil production over environmental protection.
In a post on X Newsom said, “Trump knew his war with Iran would raise gas prices. Now he wants to illegally resurrect a pipeline shut down by courts and facing criminal prosecution. And it won’t lower prices either.”
He added, “I refuse to let Trump sacrifice Californians, our environment or our $51 billion coastal economy.”
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