by Katy Grimes, E&E Legal Senior Media Fellow and California Globe Editor
As Appearing in the California Globe

These would stabilize California fuels markets, and assure that California crude oil producers and refinery operators could support U.S. force readiness and the security of the U.S.

 

Confronting the potential of gasoline shortages and severe price hikes, seven draft Executive Orders to address California’s war on the oil and gas industry are making their way through Washington, D.C. to President Donald J. Trump. The Executive Orders are intended to ensure that the United States has the necessary fuels from California to provide for its national security.

“California’s Governor and Legislature, through its past and most recent actions, and despite numerous warnings, have proven that they are incapable or unwilling to address its self-created fuel crisis, as well as the broader security of the nation,” wrote USC Professor Michael Mische, and his co-authors UC-Berkeley Professor James Rector, and U.S. Oil and Gas Association President, Tim Stewart. “The U.S., California, and global security would benefit from President Trump’s further and immediate invocation of the Defense Production Act (DPA). As a blueprint for Presidential consideration, we offer seven potential Executive Orders (EO) that POTUS may immediately consider ensuring that the U.S. has the necessary fuels from California to provide for its national security”:

1-    Executive Order #1: Allowing offshore oil production and use of all appropriate main and feeder pipeline systems necessary to move offshore crude oil production onshore using the existing pipeline network and onto California refineries or maritime terminals. (Done but in litigation).

2-    EO #2: To declare the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) “special blend” gasoline detrimental to U.S. national security, and to the economic vitality of California by revoking and eliminating requirement to use the “special blend” in California and to provide for the use of the national and more common Reformulated Fuel Standard for gasoline in California to alleviate gasoline shortages.