Calif. Republicans push back against Newsom plan to ban fracking

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 1:55 PM PT – Saturday, April 24, 2021

Republicans in California are pushing back against Governor Gavin Newsom’s (D-Calif.) attempts to ban fracking. On Friday, State Senator Shannon Grove (R) issued a statement, which accused Newsom of destroying “good-paying jobs” by banning new fracking permits.

Grove pointed out, the move will more harshly affect the Central Valley of the state, which is one of the few areas in the liberal stronghold that tends to vote Republican. It also produces almost all of the oil and gas in the state.

Grove added, more than 350,000 jobs would be threatened Newsom’s plan moves forward.

Newsom has directed the state’s top oil regulator to stop issuing new fracking permits by 2024 and to stop all oil extraction by 2045. The oil industry called it an “illegal mandate” and vowed to fight it as fracking only accounts for 17 percent of California’s oil production.

“Once again the governor has chosen to ignore science and facts,” Kevin Slagle, of the Western States Petroleum Associated, stated. “And turn our energy independence over to other sources.”

Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) also weighed in on the move, saying it would only lead us away from energy independence and make the Golden State an even more expensive place to live and raise a family.

If the ban does happen, California will become the largest oil-producing state to stop fracking.

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