by Katy Grimes, E&E Legal Senior Media Fellow and California Globe Editor
As Appearing in the California Globe
Even Elon Musk knows 52% of his cars are plastic and therefore the US needs more oil and gas production, not less
As of 2024, more than 1 out of 6 households, or 21.12 million Americans are behind in energy bill payments. In California, energy poverty is real and pushes people further down into poverty.
The Globe reported Wednesday on a new lawsuit of California mineral owners filed Wednesday challenging the constitutionality of Senate Bill 1137, a law that authorizes the unprecedented and unlawful seizure of property rights for everyday Californians.
California mineral owners own the underground mineral rights where oil and gas are produced. Royalty owners receive royalty income from the lease of mineral interests and, in exchange, receive a royalty income.
SB 1137, which took effect on June 27, 2024, bans the construction of new oil wells and the maintenance or repair of existing wells within 3,200 feet of loosely defined “sensitive receptors,” potentially threatening to shut down energy resource infrastructure statewide. SB 1137 was pushed through the California State Legislature in the final days of session in 2022 with little public debate or review.
