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The Center for Biological Diversity and the Wishtoyo Foundation sued the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management in April 2025, alleging that the agency violated the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act and the Administrative Procedure Act by not requiring Sable to revise the Santa Ynez Unit’s development and production plans for the first of three offshore platforms that the company planned to restart.

The groups argued that the plans, originally approved in the 1970s and 1980s, were “woefully outdated” and did not reflect current environmental conditions or operational risks.

The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California ruled that the organizations failed to demonstrate how BOEM’s decision caused them injury sufficient to establish standing.

The court also stated that the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act gives the Department of the Interior discretion over when to revisit previously approved development and production plans. The judge stated that BOEM had already conducted a review in its April 2025 decision and that the court was “powerless to compel the secretary to conduct another review….”

Under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, BOEM is required to seek input from local governments only for certain agency actions. The local governments, in turn, can then seek comments to include in their responses to BOEM.

The environmental groups may file an amended complaint, according to Courthouse News.

The three platforms are part of the Santa Ynez Unit, which has been shut since the 2015 Refugio oil spill. The Santa Ynez Unit also includes an onshore oil processing plant located in Las Flores Canyon, near Goleta, and the associated pipeline infrastructure.

Questions, comments, or tips? Contact editor@californiaenergyjournal.com.

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From the California Energy Journal

California Seeks Preliminary Injunction to Stop Sable Pipeline Restart (May 8, 2026) – California filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to stop Sable Offshore Corp.’s restart of the Las Flores Pipeline System serving the offshore Santa Ynez Unit. California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed the motion on May 1, 2026, asking the court to revoke the federal order to restart the pipeline and to block the transportation of oil through the pipeline system. The pipeline, which was shut down following the 2015 Refugio oil spill, is critical to restarting oil production in the Santa Ynez Unit. Read more.

CEC Subpoenas Golden State Wind Over Federal Lease Buyout (May 11, 2026) – The California Energy Commission (CEC) issued an administrative investigative subpoena to Golden State Wind LLC on May 4, 2026, seeking records on its agreement with the U.S. Department of the Interior to abandon its offshore wind lease off the Central Coast of California. Read more.

Additional California News and Analysis

Oil and gas

• A spokesperson for the Office of the Department of Energy called California energy policies an “untenable threat to our national security, especially in a time of military conflict.” New York Post, May 5, 2026.

• The oil and gas industry spent $10.3 million lobbying California lawmakers and regulators in the first quarter of 2026. The Western States Petroleum Association spent $4.3 million, followed by Chevron at $3.7 million. Elk Grove News, May 11, 2026.

• Environmental groups announced plans to file a motion to intervene and join the state of California in opposing President Donald Trump’s order to reactivate Sable Offshore Corp.’s pipeline. Noozhawk, Santa Barbara Independent, May 7, 2026.

Commentary and analysis

• Edward Ring, “Can Oil Industry Lawsuits Compel Rational Energy Policy?,” California Policy Center, May 6, 2026.

Gasoline and fuels

• CEC Vice Chair Siva Gunda testified that California has enough fuel supply to meet demand for the next six weeks. KCRA, May 5, 2026.

Commentary and analysis

• Collin Eaton, “Think $6 Gas Is Bad? It’s About to Get Even Worse in California,” Wall Street Journal, May 11, 2026.

Power and utilities

• The Extended Day-Ahead Market’s prices are falling within expected ranges, according to the California Independent System Operator. Utility Dive, May 7, 2026.

• California energy leaders reported a generally positive outlook for summer 2026 grid reliability, citing major gains in battery storage, clean energy deployment, forecasting, and emergency preparedness following years of investment and planning. CEC, May 4, 2026.

Commentary and analysis

• Claire Barber, “California’s Battery Array Is as Powerful as 12 Nuclear Power Plants. Here’s What’s on the Horizon.,” Inside Climate News, May 5, 2026.

Carbon and emissions

• California’s cap-and-invest climate program is under continued scrutiny as state regulators weigh changes they say could help stabilize fuel prices and support refineries while keeping California on track to meet its climate goals. ABC News, May 6, 2026.

Additional News and Analysis

Energy production

• Total U.S. energy production increased to a new record of 107 quadrillion British thermal units (quads) in 2025, a 3.4% increase from the previous record set in 2024, according to new data in our Monthly Energy Review. Total production was driven by record-high production in natural gas, crude oil, natural gas plant liquids (NGPLs), and renewables. This was the fourth consecutive year in which the United States set a record for total energy production. EIA, May 11, 2026.

Oil and gas

• The oil market is in “a race against time,” according to Morgan Stanley, as factors that restrained price rises from the Iran war may come under strain if the Strait of Hormuz stays closed into June. Bloomberg, May 11, 2026.

Gasoline and fuels

• President Donald Trump said Monday he will move to suspend the federal tax on gasoline to help Americans shoulder surging fuel prices caused by the Iran war. Congress, however, would have to approve the move. AP, May 11, 2026.

Renewable energy

• President Donald Trump signed legislation to extend construction deadlines for hydropower projects. S. 1020, the “Build More Hydro” bill, would allow the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to extend the construction start period for projects licensed before March 2020 by up to six years, in two-year increments. E&E News, May 12, 2026.

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Golden State Wind LLC agreed to voluntarily end Lease OCS-P 0564 in the Morro Bay Wind Energy Area and to forego future offshore wind development in exchange for a repayment of $120 million in lease fees. The company will receive the payment after it makes equal oil and gas investment outside of California.

California is evaluating potential legal action related to the lease buyouts, marking a significant escalation in tensions between California and the Trump administration over energy policy and offshore wind development along the Pacific Coast.

Golden State’s lease buyout is part of the Trump administration policy to stop offshore wind energy development. In January 2025, President Donald Trump temporarily withdrew the Federal Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) from offshore wind leasing and calls for a review of the Federal government’s leasing and permitting practices for wind energy projects. In August 2025, the Trump administration issued a series of orders to end offshore wind leasing in U.S. federal waters. A group of states challenged these actions.

The investigation over the lease buyout indicates the growing concern within California that federal actions could undermine the state’s long-term clean energy and climate objectives. Offshore wind is part of the CEC’s strategic plan to meet the state’s goal of 100% clean electricity by 2045. That plan calls for two to five gigawatts (GW) of floating offshore wind capacity by 2030 and 25 GW by 2045.

Golden State Wind had planned a 2-gigawatt offshore wind project in the Morro Bay Wind Energy Area capable of supplying electricity to approximately 1.1 million homes. The project was one of five offshore wind developments proposed for California federal waters. The lease areas were part of the Biden administration’s national target of 30 GW of offshore wind by 2030.

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The motion is part of a lawsuit, filed in March 2026, challenging the order issued under the Defense Production Act (DPA) to restart the pipeline. The state argues that the order exceeds federal authority. The motion argues that the “ongoing operation of the pipeline causes irreparable harm to California’s sovereign and property interests, as well as to its environment and public safety…” Bonta states that the “equities and public interest tilt strongly in favor” of stopping the order.

The motion is part of the state’s second lawsuit challenging the pipeline restart. In January, California sued the federal government for taking regulatory authority over the pipeline system after the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) asserted regulatory authority over the pipelines by reclassifying them as “interstate” rather than “intrastate” pipelines.

The lawsuit also challenges the PHMSA’s approval of Sable’s restart plan before completion of state-mandated safety requirements and approval of the company’s request for an “emergency special permit” that waives certain safety rules.

In a separate state legal matter, a Santa Barbara County judge recently denied Sable’s effort to rescind the preliminary injunction prohibiting the restart of the pipeline system. The injunction against the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) requires Sable to provide advance notice before restarting onshore pipeline operations. Sable, however, restarted the pipeline in March under the authority of the federal Defense Production Act (DPA) order.

Questions, comments, or tips? Contact editor@californiaenergyjournal.com.

From the California Energy Journal

BOEM Issues Final Environmental Review for Platform Gilda Fracking Proposal (April 28, 2026) – On April 22, 2026, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) issued a final environmental impact statement (EIS) on a proposal to authorize well stimulation treatments, including fracking, on Platform Gilda offshore Ventura County. Read more.

Additional California News and Analysis

Oil and gas

• The last California-bound oil tanker to pass through the Strait of Hormuz since the beginning of the war with Iran is at the Port of Long Beach offloading its valuable cargo — 2 million barrels of crude destined to be transformed into gasoline, jet fuel and diesel. Los Angeles Times, May 3, 2026.

Commentary and analysis

• Edward Ring, “California’s Self-Destructive War on Oil,” California Policy Center, April 29, 2026.

• Alison F. Takemura, “Local policies to get buildings off gas keep winning in court, Canary Media, April 29, 2026.

Fuels and refining

• The Bay Area Air District fined Valero $3.25 million for multiple air quality violations and ongoing compliance issues. CBS; Bay Area Air District, April 28, 2026.

Wind and solar

• The California Energy Commission has issued an administrative investigative subpoena to Golden State Wind regarding its deal with the Trump Administration to abandon an offshore wind project. CEC, May 4, 2026.

• Governor Gavin Newsom announced the completion of a first-of-its-kind solar-covered canal in the Central Valley. The project will help the state evaluate how solar infrastructure can reduce water loss from evaporation, generate renewable energy, and improve overall system efficiency. Office of the Governor, April 29, 2026.

Commentary and analysis

• Ryan Kennedy, “California sets precedent by overriding local blockade for Soda Mountain,” PV Magazine, April 29, 2026.

Climate and emissions

• California state lawmakers sent a letter to regulators criticizing changes to the state’s cap-and-invest program that they say weaken the program and benefit the oil industry. E&E News, April 29, 2026.

Power and utilities

• The California Independent System Operator (CAISO) and PacifiCorp launched the Extended Day-Ahead Market (EDAM), allowing greater access to the Western electricity market. American Public Power Association; Office of the Governor, May 1, 2026.

• The California Public Utilities Commission denied a proposal from Southern California Gas to collect $266 million of cost recovery from natural gas customers to pay for development of the Angeles Link hydrogen pipeline. CPUC, April 30, 2026; Canary Media, May 1, 2026.

Commentary and analysis

• Jeff St. John, “Two California bills would push utilities to get more out of their grids,” Canary Media, April 30, 2026.

Politics

• Candidate for governor of California Xavier Becerra reportedly accepted a $39,200 donation from Chevron for his gubernatorial campaign, prompting criticism from fellow candidates. Politico, April 29, 2026.

• Candidate for governor Steve Hilton vowed to do away with California’s climate policies in favor of more gas production. SF Chronicle, April 29, 2026.

Commentary and analysis

• Evan George, “Does Taking Oil Money Disqualify You from Being Governor?,” Legal Planet, April 29, 2026.

Additional News and Analysis

Oil and gas

• A first-of-its-kind international conference on moving away from fossil fuels wrapped up in Colombia Wednesday with a clear message: the global conversation has shifted from whether to phase out oil, gas and coal to how to do it, with financing emerging as one of the biggest obstacles. AP, April 29, 2026

• France has pledged to phase out all coal, oil and gas use in the years between 2030 and 2050. FT, April 29, 2026.

Wind and solar

• The Trump administration is spending nearly $2 billion to get energy companies to walk away from U.S. offshore wind projects. Democrats in Congress are investigating. AP, April 29, 2026.

Critical minerals

• Export restrictions on critical raw materials have increased fivefold since 2009 despite continuing efforts by advanced economies to diversify their supply chains, OECD research has shown. FT, April 28, 2026.

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The EIA completes a fast-tracked federal review of the proposed treatments on up to 16 existing wells at the platform as …

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From the California Energy Journal

Trump Directs Federal Financial Support to Increase Energy Production (April 23…

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The determinations come only weeks after the Trump administration directed Sable Offshore Corp. to restart the oil pipeline system serving the …

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From the California Energy Journal

Judge Upholds Injunction against Sable Oil Pipeline Restart (April 20, 2026) –…

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From the California Energy Journal

California Challenges Federal Offshore Fracking Review (April 10, 2026) – Cali…

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The attorney general argued in a March 30, 2026 comment letter that the process violates federal law and longstanding court orders. “Curtailing procedural requi…

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From the California Energy Journal

Federal Court Allows California Oil Setback Law to Remain in Effect (April 2, …

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The federal approval allows Unit 1 to opera…

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U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins rejected a U.S. Department of Justice motion for a preliminary injunction against enforcement of SB 1137, a…

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From the California Energy Journal

BOEM Moves to Fast-Track Environmental Review for Offshore Fracking at Platfor…

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In its report Data Centers and California Electricity Policy, the Little Hoover Commission evaluates how the state should manage rising electricity dema…

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In a March 18, 2026 notice of intent, BOEM said it will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to evaluate a proposal to authorize well stimul…

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From the California Energy Journal

California Brings Multiple Legal Challenges to Block Sable Pipeline Restart (M…

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The complaint challenges the March 13, 2026 order issued …

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