Commentary
California shouldn’t let oil companies rewrite refinery safety rules
Regulators will hold a hearing Jan. 15 at the OSHA Standards Board in Sacramento on changes that will weaken safety standards for refineries.
Oil And Gas
Commentary
CalPERS’ $60 billion investment in ‘climate solutions’ lacks environmental standards, transparency
CalPERS won't say what climate companies it invests in. The pension also holds positions in fossil fuel, airlines, plastics manufacturing and technology.
Commentary
As oil and gas companies pivot to plastic, California neighborhoods become sacrifice zones again
As oil and gas companies pivot to plastic, certain California neighborhoods become unhealthy sacrifice zones again.
Commentary
Cap and trade gets a new name and a new mission beyond cutting carbon pollution
Revenues from the state's carbon emissions auction will be used for high speed rail, wildfire suppression and legislators' discretionary spending.
Commentary
A spate of new studies gives the lowdown on California’s sky-high living costs
How costly is it to live California? Let us count the ways with new studies comparing everything from mortgage payments to a gallon of gas.
Commentary
Newsom’s gas price crusade morphs into bid to keep refiners open
A study Gov. Gavin Newsom commissioned describes higher margins oil refiners receive for their products, which become gasoline.
Commentary
Newsom plays climate warrior, compromiser and coy candidate
Gov. Gavin Newsom attracted national news coverage thanks to Proposition 50 before jetting to Brazil for a climate conference President Donald Trump avoided.
Commentary
Kern County oil drilling law reveals who and what California lawmakers will sacrifice
A hurried law this year that expands oil drilling demonstrated how industry dollars and misleading information can convince California lawmakers to reverse climate progress.
Environment
Federal oversight is disappearing as multiple refineries explode. Who’s in charge now?
An El Segundo refinery fire has renewed questions about who is investigating the state’s oil industry after serious accidents. With the U.S. Chemical Safety Board defunded, California has yet to fill the gap.
Economy
Oil refinery closures leave workers searching for a job that ‘just doesn’t exist’
For the refinery workers being laid off — most of whom lack a college degree — it’s unlikely they’ll find another job that pays as well, despite recent efforts by the state to help.