Massive breakthrough for California oil as desperately needed new sources get green light

A major federal decision has cleared the way for new oil and gas leasing on public lands across Central California, reopening energy development opportunities in eight counties despite fierce opposition from the state.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) — an agency within the United States Department of the Interior — announced this week it has finalized updated management plans governing oil and gas leasing and development on federal lands within portions of Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare and Ventura counties.

The decision allows the agency to restart oil and gas leasing within the Bakersfield Field Office region, ending a yearslong pause that stemmed from legal challenges and environmental reviews.

Federal officials said the move fulfills obligations under a 2022 settlement agreement and aligns with the Trump administration’s push to increase domestic energy production.

The action covers a vast swath of federal land managed by the Bakersfield Field Office, which oversees roughly 400,000 acres of public land and about 1.2 million acres of federal mineral estate across Central California.

Federal officials said energy activity tied to those lands supports approximately 3,500 jobs and generates more than $200 million annually. The agency also collects between $65 million and $90 million in royalty payments each year, with about half of that revenue flowing back to California and the remainder going to the US Treasury.

The approval follows the completion of a supplemental environmental impact statement that examined the potential effects of future oil and gas leasing and development in the region.

BLM officials said the decision is consistent with Secretary’s Order 3418, which implements President Donald Trump’s energy agenda and encourages expanded development of oil, natural gas, coal, critical minerals and other energy resources on federal lands.

The order calls for energy projects to be developed in a manner that is efficient, affordable and reliable while supporting domestic production.

The move is expected to be welcomed by supporters of the oil industry, particularly in Kern County, where energy production remains a major economic driver and employer.

But environmental advocates blasted the decision, warning it could lead to expanded drilling operations on public lands and increase greenhouse gas emissions.

“The Trump administration is sprinting forward with its eyes closed to hand over a million acres of California’s public lands to Big Oil. We’ll fight this with everything we’ve got,” said Cooper Kass, an attorney with the Climate Law Institute at the Center for Biological Diversity.

“It’s a reckless decision that shows who’s really calling the shots at the White House. From Ventura to the Bay Area, California’s public lands have always been a refuge for people and wildlife. We’ve got to protect these places and our communities from a government hellbent on lining this toxic industry’s pockets.”

The decision marks the latest flashpoint in an ongoing clash between California officials and the Trump administration over energy policy.

Earlier this year, California sued the federal government over efforts to revive pipelines connected to offshore oil operations near Santa Barbara. Environmental groups have also raised alarms about other federal proposals that could expand future oil development opportunities along California’s coast.

For now, however, the BLM’s approval represents a significant victory for energy producers seeking access to federal lands in California and a key step forward in the administration’s effort to boost domestic oil and gas production.

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