California’s oil and gas industry evokes strong reactions on both sides of the issue from policymakers to activists, employees to consumers. Factual, scientific-based information is often overlooked because of misinformation and lies that are frequently disseminated in the public realm concerning oil and gas production. This is why some believe that California’s oil and gas industry is unnecessary and unwanted. Every day, activists push policies at the state and local level to shut down California oil and gas production. They assert that California would be better off if we transitioned to 100% imported oil to meet its vast energy needs. On the surface, it may seem that transitioning to 100% imported oil is an easy position to take. But when the issue is examined in detail, many challenges and risks exist that would fundamentally harm our state’s people, our economy and our values.
Here’s how California’s people, the economy and our values are at risk if we transition to 100% imported oil:
We are second chance workers, Veterans, single parents, first-generation citizens, and union members who work every day to support our families and our community
[Learn more about California Energy Workers]
CALIFORNIA’S OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY SUPPORTS 50,000 JOBS. [Provides 32,550 jobs] in the San Joaquin Valley where unemployment rates are nearly double the statewide average. A transition to 100% imported oil will devastate the regional economy and its people.
AVERAGE ANNUAL PAY IN OIL INDUSTRY: $121,000 nearly double the private sector average in the state Able as a family with a single wage earner to afford a median-priced home in California(1).
Nearly 50% of the workforce is ethnically diverse.
1. Assuming a 10 percent down payment and an interest rate of 2.8% on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, annual payments on a $717,930 median-priced home in California (as of December 2020) would be $35,690. After inclusion of property taxes and insurance, annual costs would be $37,600 or 30.8% of the $121,000 average salary in the oil and gas extraction and support industries. Source of median home sales price is California Association of Realtors. https://www.car.org/marketing/clients/infographics/December%202020%20Sales%20and%20Price
The oil and gas industry drives our economy by providing a safe, reliable and affordable energy supply that fuels cars, heat homes, powers businesses, grow food and produces everyday products. This, in turn, generates billions in state and local tax revenues that fund vital community services.
$1.5 BILLION IN TAX REVENUES: • K-12 schools • Higher education • Health • Public Safety • Social Service Programs
LEARN MORE: California’s Economy is Powered by Oil and Gas
“There are ancillary benefits … it would also cause a lot of economic disruption. The costs are not just the lost income to the producers, they are also the job disruption and the community disruption from shutting down oil production. We need to take those into account.” – Professor Severin Borenstein, E.T. Grether Professor of Business Administration and Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business and Faculty Director of the Energy Institute at Haas
California leads the way in safe, affordable and environmentally responsible oil and gas production with the nation’s strictest regulations. In California, more than 25 local, state and federal agencies oversee oil and gas production.
“The vast majority of future oil production is likely to come from autocratic regimes with abysmal human rights records, countries where most oil profits go to wealthy oligarchs, officials, royalty and other insiders.” – Professor Severin Borenstein, E.T. Grether Professor of Business Administration and Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business and Faculty Director of the Energy Institute at Haas
California is committed to regulations and policies that protect our workers and our environment. Imported oil is not produced to California’s stringent safety, labor and environmental standards. Oil produced by foreign sources is not subject to rigorous environmental review, greenhouse gas mitigation, and worker safety inspections present in California.
Source: Economic and Revenue Impacts of a Statewide Oil Production Ban in California, December 2018, Capitol Matrix Consulting
Over 200,000 Californians standing together to support safe, affordable and reliable local oil and gas production.
