Today, Senator Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) announced that Senate Bill 237 has passed off the Senate Floor and is now headed to Governor Newsom’s desk for signature. The bill certifies the Kern County Environmental Impact Report (EIR), enabling streamlined permitting to expand oil and gas production while maintaining environmental protections. SB 237 addresses California’s critical decline in domestic oil production, which has led to nearly 80% of the state’s oil being imported to meet consumer demand.
SB 237 would allow the County to approve up to 2,000 new well drilling permits a year. Last year the state only approved 84 new well permits, and only a handful have been approved this year. Senator Grove is thankful for the strong advocacy of Governor Newsom, CEC Vice Chair Siva Gunda, many of her colleagues and especially the unparalleled expertise of retired Kern County Planning Commissioner Lorelei Oviatt.
“Senate Bill 237, now on Governor Newsom’s desk, will allow Kern County to expand oil production and continue providing Californians with a reliable, affordable, and environmentally responsible source of energy,” said Senator Shannon Grove. “We have worked tirelessly to craft a solution that balances clean energy goals with the demand for fossil fuels. I look forward to the Governor signing this bill so that my hardworking constituents can get back to work and provide ALL Californians with affordable prices at the pump.”
“I want to thank retired Commissioner Lorelei Oviatt who is an incredibly talented expert in her field,” Senator Grove continued. “She has worked tirelessly to create Kern County’s EIR, which sets a gold standard for environmental responsibility while allowing Kern County to increase production to help lower costs for Californians. I also want to thank the CEC Vice Chair Siva Gunda for bringing all the experts to the table to create a solution that allows for a more affordable and reliable approach to energy production.”
Watch Senator Shannon Grove’s speech on the floor today here.
Watch Senator Shannon Grove and retired Kern County Planning Commissioner Lorelei Oviatt react to the bill passing out of the Assembly Natural Resources Committee yesterday here.
Governor Newsom has 30 days to sign SB 237 into law. For more information, follow @ShannonGroveCA.