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.
From the California Energy Journal
Coastal Commission Refuses Permits for Diablo Canyon without Additional Land Conservation (November 10, 2025) – The California Coastal Commission declined Pacific Gas and Electric’s (PG&E) request for a federal consistency certification and a state coastal development permit, both of which are needed for a new 20-year operating license for the Diablo Canyon Power Plant. Read more.
Santa Barbara Denies Permit Transfer to Sable in Preliminary Vote (November 5, 2025) – The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted to deny the transfer of operating permits from ExxonMobil to Sable Offshore Corp. that cover the Santa Ynez Unit, a gas plant, and the Las Flores Pipelines. The Supervisors voted 4-1 to prepare written findings to support the decision and will have a final vote on December 16, 2025. The transfer of permits is a key step in restarting the Santa Ynez Unit, which has been shut since the 2015 Refugio oil spill. Read more.
Additional California Developments
Oil and Gas
A recent report alleged Sable executives selectively disclosed information to investors, including pro golfer Phil Mickelson, and the company has formed a special committee to probe the allegations. Bloomberg (November 10, 2025).
California state assembly member Stan Ellis warned that state energy policies have increased dependence on imported aviation fuel, calling the trend “a clear and present threat” to national security. AVweb.com (November 5, 2025).
Carbon
California Resources Corporation and its carbon management business, Carbon TerraVault, sign an MOU with Capital Power to provide carbon management services for CPX’s La Paloma generation facility near McKittrick in Kern County, California. CRC (November 4, 2025); Yahoo (November 4, 2025).
Hydrogen
ARCHES shelved plans to build a hydrogen hub in California, a month after the U.S. Department of Energy terminated funding for the facility. H2 View (November 5, 2025).
Climate Policy
The Port of Oakland marked two key achievements in its push to become the “cleanest and greenest” US port. In 2024, 86 per cent of the electricity supplied to tenants and facilities came from renewable or zero-carbon sources, and the port secured a long-term energy storage agreement to stabilise supply, optimise solar power, and support its full clean energy transition. Port Technology International (November 5, 2025).
The White House opted to not send any high-ranking U.S. officials to the U.N.’s annual COP global climate conference this year. California is sending a large delegation, including Governor Gavin Newsom. Los Angeles Times (November 7, 2025).
The COP30 climate summit opened with the U.N. climate chief urging countries to cooperate rather than battle over priorities. Governor Newsom criticized the U.S. absence. Reuters (November 10, 2025); Politico (November 10, 2025).
Governor Gavin Newsom warned that the United States risks falling behind other countries in the clean energy economy. “China gets it,” he said. “America is toast competitively, if we don’t wake up to what the hell they’re doing in this space — on supply chains, how they’re dominating manufacturing, how they’re flooding the zone here, EU, elsewhere, Africa.” Sacramento Bee (November 10, 2025).
Interesting Reads
Bill Walker, “Postcard from California: Disclosing the full climate impacts of big businesses,” TNL, November 5, 2025.
Edward Ring, “Lines for Gas Coming to California,” California Policy Center, November 6, 2025.
Alejandro Lazo, “If Trump’s EPA abandons climate policy, could California take over on greenhouse gases?,” CalMatters, November 7, 2025.
“California’s coast is no place for oil drilling,” Press Democrat, November 9, 2025.
Colleen Callahan and Dan Coffee, “California Communities Impacted by Thousands of Oil and Gas Wells that Feed the Plastic Industry,” UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, November 6, 2025.
Doug Smith, “As a century-old oil field winds down, what’s next for Baldwin Hills? A sprawling park or housing?,” Los Angeles Times, November 9, 2025.
Additional News
Wind and Solar
Australia launched a plan to force energy companies to offer free electricity to households during the day, aiming to use excess solar capacity and rebalance the grid away from coal and gas. The intervention is an attempt by the government to take advantage of the country’s extensive network of rooftop solar panels. FT (November 4, 2025)
Federal Policy
A new lawsuit from clean energy groups accuses the Trump administration of “political retribution” in its recent decision to cancel a slate of energy projects that are primarily located in blue states. The lawsuit asks the court to restore the funding that the administration canceled. The Hill (November 11, 2025).
International
China’s clean technology manufacturing dominance is driving global clean energy adoption. China’s massive manufacturing investments in the sector have sent the cost of clean energy plummeting, making it competitive with fossil fuels in many markets with few or no subsidies. WSJ (November 6, 2025).
Nuclear
Bechtel president Craig Albert said the nuclear industry could deliver on the president’s executive orders to start work on developing 10 large-scale nuclear reactors by 2030. But government and the private sector would need to work together to overcome financing hurdles linked to risks of cost overruns and delays. FT (October 28, 2025).
Critical Minerals
Vulcan Elements is receiving a $620 million direct loan from the Pentagon’s Office of Strategic Capital and $550 million in private capital to build a magnet facility in the US. Bloomberg (November 3, 2025).
The U.S. added copper, silver and uranium to a government list of critical minerals, which now totals 60 minerals. The updated list could lead to tariffs and trade restrictions. Bloomberg (November 6, 2025).
President Donald Trump said he would look to diversify critical minerals purchases during a meeting with five central Asian countries. Bloomberg (November 7, 2025).
AI and Data Centers
A group of left-of-center senators, including Bernie Sanders, are demanding the White House address rising electricity costs, partly attributing them to the AI boom’s infrastructure build-out. WSJ (November 10, 2025).
Interesting Reads
John Kerry, “Renewables are the key to true energy sovereignty,” Semafor, November 6, 2025.
“China’s clean-energy revolution will reshape markets and politics,” The Economist, November 6, 2025.
Bjorn Lomborg, “China’s Green Energy ‘Revolution’ Is Powered by Coal,” WSJ, November 10, 2025.