In a significant move reflecting national energy concerns, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright has ordered the Texas-based Sable Offshore Corp. to restore operations of a pipeline off the southern California coast, which was affected by a substantial oil spill in 2015. This directive was issued on Friday under the Defense Production Act, aimed at mitigating risks of supply disruptions.
The restoration of Sable's Santa Ynez unit, which comprises three offshore rigs and a processing facility capable of producing around 50,000 barrels of oil per day, is intended to counter a reliance on foreign crude oil, potentially replacing nearly 1.5 million barrels each month. Today's order will strengthen America’s oil supply and restore a pipeline system vital to our national security and defense, Wright stated, emphasizing the importance of reliable energy sources for West Coast military installations.
This order follows President Donald Trump’s executive action to lift previously set restrictions on offshore drilling, reversing former President Joe Biden’s ban on such activities along the coastlines—the legality of which had faced federal court challenges.
However, the move has sparked stern backlash from California officials, particularly Governor Gavin Newsom, who condemned the directive as unlawful. Newsom stated that Sable's operations are already prohibited by multiple court orders, asserting, California will not stand by while the Trump administration attempts to sacrifice our coastal communities, our environment, and our $51 billion coastal economy. He further announced plans to challenge the decision in court, framing it as a direct affront to California's regulatory authority.
Previously, California's Attorney General Rob Bonta had filed a lawsuit against the federal government concerning the approval for Sable's pipeline plans, arguing that such federal encroachments on local regulatory power were unjustified.
