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
State Fire Marshall Delays Approval of Sable Restart Plan (October 31, 2025) – A state regulatory agency informed Sable Offshore Corp. that it had not met all requirements to restart oil production. The Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM) sent a letter to Sable on October 22, 2025 stating that it had not met the tool sizing accuracy found in the safety waivers that the regulatory granted Sable in December 2024. Read more.
Report Says California Energy Policies a ”Clear and Present Threat to National Security”; Calls for Federal Intervention (October 30, 2025) – California’s energy policies and its “inability to effectively manage the current refinery closings and in-state oil production crisis” could contribute to supply chain disruptions for military fuels and “compromise U.S. force readiness and national security,” according to a new report from California Assemblyman Stan Ellis, USC Professor Michael Mische, and Michael Ariza. Read more.
Additional California Developments
Climate Policy
Senate Bill 684 and Assemblymember Dawn Addis (D-Monterey), Assembly Bill 1243—would force the largest oil and gas corporations to help cover the massive costs of fires, floods, and other climate-related disasters devastating California communities. The legislation will be reintroduced this January. StreetsBlog (October 29, 2025).
Politics
The fossil fuel industry spent $7.1 million in Q3 of 2025, from July 1 through September 30. The total lobbying and influence spending for Q1-Q3 in 2025 is over $25 million for the fossil fuel industry, according to a press release for the Last Chance Alliance (LCA). Daily Kos (November 3, 2025).
Interesting Reads
Katy Grimes, “What Does California Need to Stabilize the State’s Oil Supply?,” California Globe, October 31, 2025.
Melanie Davidson, “A hydrogen ‘do-over’ for California,” Utility Dive, October 30, 2025.
Kirk Uhler, “Newsom Makes a Big About-Face with Big Oil,” California Globe, October 31, 2025.
Will O’Neill, “Opinion: Newsom struggles with fallout from his disastrous energy agenda,” San Diego Tribune, November 3, 2025.
Additional News
Nuclear
The U.S. government inked a partnership with three companies on Tuesday that aims to build at least $80 billion in large nuclear reactors. It is one of the most ambitious plans in U.S. atomic energy in decades, underscoring President Donald Trump’s agenda to maximize energy output, focused on oil, gas, coal and nuclear. Reuters (October 28, 2025).
Critical Minerals
China has agreed to delay the introduction of its latest round of rare earth export controls as part of a deal agreed between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, but earlier restrictions on the critical minerals that have upended global trade remain. Reuters (October 30, 2025).
Oil and Gas
The government shutdown isn’t stopping the Trump administration from advancing its policy priorities, especially when it comes to fossil fuels. The Bureau of Land Management said staff members in charge of processing leases and permits for oil and gas, leases for coal or “other energy and mineral resources necessary for energy production” would still have to work. The Hill (October 30, 2025).
Data Centers
Rystad Energy’s analysis shows that data centers have yet to significantly influence power prices in the current terms. The research points to the full price impact of data centers emerging closer to 2030, driven by the completion of a wave of data center infrastructure and more centers coming online. Rystad predicts that meeting this inevitable increase in energy demand will be difficult to meet due to severe supply-side bottlenecks, including generator retirements, lengthy interconnection timelines and project viability risks. Rystad Energy (October 28, 2025).