This weekly newsletter highlights the latest from the California Energy Journal along with links to articles and analysis on key developments in California energy policy.
Questions, comments, or tips? Contact editor@californiaenergyjournal.com.
From the California Energy Journal
New Bills Target a Range of Energy Issues, with a Focus on Affordability (February 23, 2026) – Legislators introduced an array of new legislation in the 2026 legislative session. With the February 20 deadline for new bills, several policy themes begin to emerge with several areas continuing from the 2025 session. Read more.
Additional California News and Analysis
Power and utilities
Governor Gavin Newsom announced new leaders at state energy regulators that reportedly will focus on energy affordability. This includes John Reynolds as the president of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). Office of the Governor, February 18, 2026. CalMatters, February 19, 2026.
Some Altadena residents learned they must pay $20,000 or more to connect to Edison’s buried lines. Edison says the undergrounding will make the town’s electrical grid safer and more reliable. Los Angeles Times, February 17, 2026.
Commentary and analysis
Liang Min, Jessica Hogle, “Fixing California’s aging electric grid could spike your PG&E bill. Or we could let data centers pay,” San Francisco Chronicle, February 15, 2026.
Liang Min and Jessica Hogle, “Fixing California’s aging electric grid could spike your PG&E bill or we could let data centers pay,” MSN, February 19, 2026.
Oil and gas
State Senator Suzette Valladares called for a special legislative session on rising gas prices and the policy decisions driving them. She also introduced several bills in an “affordability package.” State Senator Suzette Valladares, February 18, 2026.
Commentary and analysis
Suzette Valladares, “California’s energy transition is failing the middle class — and we need to admit it,” Orange County Register, February 15, 2026.
“Newsom’s Climate Policy Backfires: As refineries close, California is importing more foreign oil.,” Wall Street Journal, February 20, 2026.
US supplies of gasoline are being shipped out of the country to travel thousands of miles via the Bahamas before finally ending up in California, a state battling shrinking fuelmaking capacity and high pump prices. Shipments on the circuitous route are increasing. California imported more gasoline in November than ever before, with more than 40% coming from the Bahamas. Yahoo (Bloomberg), February 16, 2026.
Dania Romero, “California braces for possible pump increases after Valero plans Benicia refinery closure,” Fox 26 News, February 23, 2026.
Offshore oil
The California State Lands Commission held two public meetings on decommissioning 60-year-old, 231-foot-tall Platform Holly, located two miles off the shores of Goleta, with public outreach meetings on Thursday. Noozhawk, February 21, 2026.
Commentary and analysis
Ella Heydenfeldt, “After Public Outcry, Feds Invite Oil and Gas Companies to Nominate Blocks of Ocean off California for Offshore Drilling,” Santa Barbara Independent, February 20, 2026.
Carbon reporting
CARB will hold a public hearing on February 26, 2026 to consider the proposed California Corporate GHG Reporting and Climate-Related Financial Risk Disclosure Initial Regulation.
Climate policy
Commentary and analysis
Maxine Joselow, “As Trump Obliterates Climate Efforts, States Try to Fill the Gap,” New York Times, February 18, 2026.
Renewable energy
The California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) proposed decision would dramatically cut back the amount of new in-state wind energy grid operators should plan for through 2036. Politico, February 19, 2026.
Commentary and analysis
Rob Nikolewski, “California regulator says its solar rules are fair, but trio of environmental groups wants to toss them out,” Mercury News, February 18, 2026.
Nuclear energy
Commentary and analysis
Jeff Donovan, Cristina Talacko, “California needs to end its outdated nuclear power plant moratorium,” San Francisco Chronicle, February 18, 2026.
EVs
California is challenging an unorthodox move by congressional Republicans to kill a waiver allowing the state to enact its own emissions regulations. If California wins, it could force U.S. automakers to comply with two diametrically opposed regulatory schemes: President Donald Trump’s anti-EV policy and California’s pro-EV regime, which 11 other states have adopted. Reuters, February 19, 2026.
Additional News and Analysis
Climate policy
A group of 13 states sued the administration, challenging the cancellation of billions of dollars in funding for climate-friendly projects, primarily in Democrat-leaning states. The Hill, February 18, 2026.
The U.S. Supreme Court will consider a bid from ExxonMobil and Suncor to toss out a suit from Boulder, Colorado suit blaming them for climate change. The Hill, E&E News, February 23, 2026.
AI and data centers
Microsoft has promised to keep buying enough renewable energy to match all its electricity needs after meeting that goal for the first time last year. Reuters, February 18, 2026.
Oil and gas
Big Oil executives are under pressure to spell out their plans for future growth after years of cost-cutting and heightened shareholder returns as investors fretted about peak oil demand. With the transition to clean energy now expected to be slower, extending the need for fossil fuels, ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, BP and TotalEnergies are being asked to prove the longevity of their reserves and the strength of their project pipelines. FT, February 16, 2026.