Fox Business correspondent Kelly Saberi reports on ‘The Bottom Line’ on California’s isolated energy policies that have plagued the once energy-dominant state.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright warns as president that California’s insufficient energy production could pose a national security threat donald trump Steps to reduce the state’s dependence on foreign oil.
Wright criticized California politicians, including the governor. Gavin NewsomTo make California an energy-starved island by outsourcing oil and gas imports from places like Iraq and Brazil, even if resources could be developed in the state.
“President Trump is concerned about energy security for military operations here state of California,” he told Fox Business’ Kelly Saberi. “It’s also a launch pad where we should be delivering our assets into the Pacific… But by strangulating California, he (Newsom) is not only hurting California, he’s hurting the national security of the United States.”
The Energy Secretary said high energy prices in the Golden State are a “political choice” and accused the leadership of weakening what was once an energy-dominant state.
Chevron’s chairman wrote a strongly worded letter to California Gov. Gavin Newsom over proposed energy rules. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images; Typhoon Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images/Getty Images)
“When I started working in California oil and gas industry “30 years ago, California was one of the top three producers of oil in the United States,” he explained. “It has a long history as a major oil and gas producer.”
“It is recent political decisions that have somehow decided to strangle this industry.”
California claims the most Gas prices in the countryAccording to AAA, as of Wednesday the price of a gallon of regular gas was $5.93 – a price that has increased due to geopolitical tensions.
Newsom criticized for ‘crazy’ California gas prices after blaming Trump for rising costs
Wright said there is “no reason” for California’s rising energy prices and regulations given the state’s vast natural resources.
“Why should Californians pay 50% higher prices for gasoline? Why should they pay nearly twice as high prices for electricity?” he asked.
Wright said ready to work with the administration California leadership To revive the state’s energy production.
Oil rig pumpjacks extract crude oil from the Wilmington Oil Field near Long Beach, California on July 30, 2013. (Reuters/David McNew/File Photo/Reuters)
“The Trump Administration looks forward to working with Gavin Newsom or anyone else in California who recognizes these threats to national security, the national economy, and most importantly, the lives of California citizens,” he said.
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However, Newsom’s office expressed reluctance Wright’s plans, read in part in a statement to Fox Business: “We want America’s taxpayer-funded fossil fuel lobbyist Chris Wright to succeed in his quest to drag America back to the Stone Age.”
The statement added, “We hope they will not suffer the same fate that Big Oil is forcing its shilling Americans to suffer – asthma, toxic exposure, black lung and other devastating costs.”
