‎Trump Administration Drafts Plan to Resume Offshore Oil Drilling Along California Coast After Decades

By: Shawn
‎The Trump administration is preparing to reopen the California coastline to offshore oil and gas drilling for the first time in decades, according to a draft plan obtained by The Washington Post.
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‎The proposal outlines six offshore lease sales scheduled between 2027 and 2030 along the California coast. It also calls for expanded drilling operations in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, an area former President Donald Trump renamed the “Gulf of America.” The Gulf region has long been shielded from drilling due to bipartisan concerns in Florida over potential beach pollution and its negative impact on tourism.
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The Trump administration plans new offshore oil drilling near California and the Gulf, sparking opposition from Governor Newsom and activists.
‎Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg News
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‎California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the draft plan during the COP30 climate summit in Brazil, where he reaffirmed his administration’s opposition to offshore drilling. Newsom declared the proposal “dead on arrival” for California, emphasizing the state’s environmental and economic priorities.
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‎Industry analysts remain uncertain about the level of interest from energy companies, as drilling leases near Louisiana and Texas may prove more attractive due to their proximity to established offshore infrastructure and supply chains.
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‎Offshore drilling along the U.S. Pacific Coast has been largely halted since the 1980s. The shift away from coastal drilling followed the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill, a catastrophic event that triggered widespread environmental activism and led to the first Earth Day.
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‎Environmental advocates have voiced strong objections to the new federal drilling plan. Pete Stauffer, ocean protection manager for the Surfrider Foundation, warned that expanded drilling would endanger marine ecosystems, coastal communities, and tourism-based economies. He said the organization and its nationwide network will oppose the proposal through advocacy and legal efforts.

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