Newsom Issues Directive to Phase Out Oil Extraction in California, Including Fracking

Today, Governor Gavin Newsom directed the California Department of Conservation’s Geologic Energy Management (CalGEM) Division to initiate regulatory action to end the issuance of new permits for hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in the state by January 2024. The Governor additionally requested the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to analyze strategies to phase out oil extraction within the state by no later than 2045.

Under the directive, CalGEM will immediately initiate rulemaking processes to cease the issuance of new fracking permits by 2024. Relatedly, CARB will evaluate how to phase out oil extraction through the Climate Change Scoping Plan, which serves as the state’s comprehensive, multi-year regulatory and programmatic plan to achieve required reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

Additional information on the Governor’s actions is available here.

Relatedly, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. this week announced a new target for the United States to achieve up to a 52 percent reduction from 2005 levels in economy-wide net greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Following the announcement, Governor Newsom issued a statement applauding the President’s reduction target and highlighting various strategies being implemented by California in reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions.