Senator Shannon Grove of Bakersfield has introduced a new legislative proposal, SB 13, aimed at promoting the ethical use of oil within California. The bill seeks to reduce gasoline prices and enhance energy security by increasing domestic oil production.
“California has placed our energy security into the hands of countries that are actively hostile to our state’s values when it comes to human rights, labor rights, and environmental rights,” Senator Grove stated. She emphasized the need for an “ethically coherent approach” to energy production in California.
The state currently produces approximately 340,000 barrels of oil daily but requires about 1.45 million barrels each day. A significant portion of California’s oil imports, around 45 percent, is sourced from the Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador, Brazil, Guyana, and Colombia. According to Grove, importing oil from these regions contributes to environmental degradation while local production could be managed more responsibly.
SB 13 aims to address concerns over foreign oil imports from nations with questionable human rights records or lower environmental standards than California. It proposes that the Air Resources Board should disclose on its website the air pollution caused by tanker ships transporting foreign oil into California.
“Much of the oil we import could be replaced by California’s in-state producers,” said Senator Grove. She questioned why California would continue importing millions of barrels from abroad when it can produce “climate compliant” oil domestically while creating jobs and enhancing energy supply.
The proposed legislation also includes a requirement for the Energy Commission to detail shipping costs associated with imported oil as part of gas pricing breakdowns. These costs reportedly add $5 to $6 per barrel or about 30 cents per gallon of gasoline.
“It is common sense that sending oil through a pipeline from Kern County to a Los Angeles refinery is a safer, and cheaper way,” Grove argued. Expanding local production could eliminate reliance on polluting tanker ships and reduce gasoline costs while generating employment opportunities within the state.
