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
Justice Department Says Defense Production Act Orders Could Override State Barriers to Oil Drilling (March 6, 2026) – The U.S. Department of Justice issued a legal opinion concluding that a presidential order on energy production issued under the Defense Production Act (DPA) could preempt conflicting state laws under the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause. The U.S. Department of Energy requested the opinion in connection with Sable Offshore Corp.’s ongoing efforts to restart offshore oil production from the Santa Ynez Unit. Read more.
CARB Approves Regulations Implementing California’s Emissions Reporting Laws (March 4, 2026) – The California Air Resources Board (CARB) voted on February 26, 2026 to approve regulations implementing California’s landmark corporate climate disclosure laws, establishing compliance timelines and administrative rules for companies subject to the requirements. The regulations confirm that companies must submit their first emissions disclosures by August 10, 2026. Read more.
Timeline: Sable Offshore and the Las Flores Pipeline System (March 4, 2026) – A new, continuously updated timeline tracking legal and regulatory developments in California’s ongoing legal and political relations with Sable Offshore Corp. and the potential restart of offshore oil drilling. Read more.
Additional California News and Analysis
Oil and gas
VIDEO “State Sen. Suzette Valladares says California is in a ‘death spiral’ on oil and gas,” California Politics 360, KCRA, March 8, 2026.
Robert Rapier, “Pipeline Gaps and Refinery Shifts Expose California’s Energy Vulnerability,” Oil Price.com, March 6, 2026.
Chevron said the proposed amendments to the cap-and-invest regulation “will cripple the survivability of the state’s remaining refineries, which will result in California losing the entire industry to this misguided program.” In a letter to state policy leaders, the company said the regulation “will increase transportation and aviation fuel prices for consumers. It will risk significant job losses, including many high‑paying union jobs, while reducing funding for essential public services. It will upend California’s fuels market and threaten critical energy and national security assets.” Chevron, March 9, 2026. (see CARB Proposes Amendments to California’s Cap-and-Trade Rules).
The idling of San Pedro Bay Pipeline has revived concerns that lower pipeline volumes that started with a slowdown in oil permitting, and have since contributed to refinery closures, could cause lasting damage to California’s petroleum infrastructure and, by extension, the local industry. Bakersfield Californian, March 4, 2026.
Wind and solar
Texas passed California to become the leader in utility-scale solar. U.S. Energy Information Administration for 2025 shows that Texas generated 58,634 gigawatt-hours from utility-scale solar, enough to pull ahead of California’s 53,713 gigawatt-hours. Inside Climate News, March 5, 2026.
Commentary and analysis
California has built only 34 community solar projects since 2015, while other states have seen significant growth. Los Angeles Times, March 5, 2026.
Power and utilities
California energy officials told the state’s utilities and other electricity providers that they must sign more contracts with renewable energy companies in an effort to boost investment before cuts to incentive programs by the Trump administration take hold. E&E News, March 2, 2026.
Commentary and analysis
Tracy Hernandez, “California’s new governor must hold down clean energy costs, drive innovation,” CalMatters, March 4, 2026
Carbon emissions
Commentary and analysis
“Gavin Newsom’s Climate Tax Hike: His regulators are cutting allowances for his tax-and-cap policy.,” Wall Street Journal, March 4, 2026.