Trump restarts offshore oil ops
The Trump administration invoked emergency powers to restart oil operations off California’s coast — a move framed as shoring up supply amid the Iran conflict. It shifts near-term energy policy with possible downstream effects on fuel and household energy costs, and it’s already touching state–federal fights over environmental rules.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright [issued an order]politico.com directing Houston-based Sable Offshore Corp. [to begin restoring operations for the Santa Ynez Unit and the Santa Ynez Pipeline System].bloomberg.com The project could flow roughly 45,000–55,000 barrels per day once restarted, according to Bloomberg’s estimate,bloomberg.com compared with U.S. petroleum demand of more than 20 million barrels per day.bloomberg.com A Department of Justice 22‑page legal opinion concluded that the Defense Production Act can be used to preempt state regulators and justify federal approval of the restart, as reported by The New York Times.nytimes.com Governor Gavin Newsom [condemned the move] and vowed on March 13 to challenge it in court in a state press release,gov.ca.gov while California Attorney General Rob Bonta had already filed suit on Jan. 23, 2026 contesting federal approvals for Sable’s restart plan.keyt.com Sable Offshore’s stock surged as the intervention became public, rising about 16% on March 11, 2026 amid reports the administration would use emergency authorities to push the project forward.money.usnews.com
