Overview
- Internal documents reported by multiple outlets outline up to six federal lease sales off California between 2027 and 2030, with additional leasing in the eastern Gulf of Mexico and off Alaska.
- Gov. Gavin Newsom rejected the proposal as “dead on arrival,” while environmental groups warned of risks to coastal economies and ecosystems.
- The Interior Department declined to comment on details of the plan, though BOEM maps show West Coast planning areas that include three off California.
- Analysts question whether companies will bid for Pacific leases given lower resource potential than the Gulf of Mexico, costly infrastructure needs, and California laws that complicate bringing oil ashore.
- The push follows a Louisiana court ruling that undercut Biden’s leasing withdrawals, as separate litigation over Sable Offshore’s operations off Santa Barbara highlights near-term legal flashpoints.