Longtime community members explain why the Central Valley is fighting back against Sacramento’s efforts to restrict local production as more than 90 local leaders and organizations call on Gov. Newsom to protect workers and the region’s way of life.

State agencies in Sacramento have moved to restrict in-state production, forcing California – which already imports 70% of the oil it uses every day – to depend even more heavily on foreign sources of oil.

Experts argue the state’s moves to limit supply will be ineffective and only result in greater imports of foreign oil.

California imports 70% of the oil it uses every day – and much of it from the Middle East, where escalating conflict has taken 5.7 million barrels of foreign oil production a day offline.

California imports more oil through the Strait of Hormuz – where six tankers have been attacked in recent weeks – than it produces in-state, leaving the state’s consumers and businesses vulnerable.

Dozens of Central Valley leaders rejected the radical call for a statewide energy shutdown, highlighting the potential impacts on jobs, local communities, and funding for vital services.

Much like radical activists, Rep. Ro Khanna pushed rhetorical illusion while providing zero evidence for false and unproven claims.

In a recent op-ed, Food & Water Watch called once more for an end to oil and gas production in California – and again demonstrated why their proposals and arguments can't be taken seriously.

California is an energy island, a fact with enormous consequences that activist groups either ignore or don’t understand.