California’s NIMBY take on offshore drilling: Anywhere but here | Opinion
Donald Trump loves punishing California, which may be one reason his administration plans to open our coast to more offshore drilling — even though it’s unclear whether any oil company would be willing to deal with state’s many restrictions, including limits on offshore pipelines and onshore infrastructure.
Nonetheless, the proposed offshore leasing, which includes federal waters off the Central Coast, has outraged politicians, environmentalists, the fishing industry, the tourism sector and many, many residents — especially those who live on the coast.
Their message is clear: Offshore oil drilling is not appropriate here.
That’s understandable, given the major oil spills that have occurred along the California coast, including the 1969 Santa Barbara blowout that spread over 35 miles of coastline and killed thousands of seabirds and marine mammals.
Regulations have improved since then, but oil spills remain a threat that California is not willing to risk. At the same time, it isn’t opposed to using offshore oil — as long as it comes from somewhere else.
California imports way more oil than it produces
A small amount is oil is still extracted off the California coast, but a much greater quantity of offshore oil is shipped here from overseas, especially from Brazil and Guyana, which supplied nearly 35% of California’s foreign oil imports in 2024.
That’s not a good look for eco-friendly California.
Banning new rigs from our coast while importing offshore oil via tankers is a NIMBY move that gives more ammo to those pushing increased oil and gas development in California.
Take a look at Energy News Beat, a pro-oil-and-gas website:
“California’s leaders preach climate purity but rely on dirtier foreign oil, effectively exporting emissions and economic benefits,” it posted in July. “It’s a classic case of virtue signaling at home while enabling the opposite abroad.”
We keep our hands clean. Other nations take on the risks
Such arguments are not wrong. It’s illogical to import the bulk of our oil from other countries that may have questionable environmental standards when there is a supply we could tap right here — both onshore and offshore.
Only one thing is more environmentally perverse: continuing to rely on oil when we know what gasoline emissions are doing to the planet.
The smart path forward it to wean ourselves off fossil fuels, rather than outsourcing the dangers and environmental damage to other nations while we keep our hands clean.
Unfortunately, Trump is sabotaging efforts to make that transition.
His very first day in office, he issued an executive order to “unleash” American energy and eliminate EV mandates.
EVs expected to decrease gasoline demand by 5.5% in 2025
Transitioning to electric vehicles is no panacea, but it has led to a significant drop in consumption. Stillwater Associates, a consulting firm specializing in transportation fuels, projected a 5.5% decrease in demand in 2025 compared to 2010, thanks to zero-emission vehicles.
It projects a decline of 22% by 2050, but that won’t happen if Trump and his fellow drill-baby-drillers get their way.
It’s not enough for California to vent about offshore drilling.
It also must double-down on its commitment to clean energy.
Consider reinstating cash incentives — however modest — to get drivers into EVs and hybrids.
Create a much more reliable fast-charging network.
Be more transparent in explaining the perils of importing oil for the exporting nations, for consumers and for the environment. (SB 13, a bill languishing in committee, would require the Energy Commission to monitor countries that export oil to California for environmental and human rights abuses.)
The best way to phase out fossil fuels is to reduce the demand for gasoline. The industry will not be anxious to sink billions of dollars into exploration and development if the market for its product is drying up.
If we aren’t willing to make that transition — if (relatively) cheap gasoline remains our fuel of choice and we continue electing enemies of clean energy — maybe we deserve to see oil rigs up and down our beautiful coast.
This story was originally published December 7, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "California’s NIMBY take on offshore drilling: Anywhere but here | Opinion."
