Go-ahead for more oil wells in Kern County frustrates California’s climate ambitions By Kurtis Alexander
A small oil boom may be dawning in the flatlands outside Bakersfield, where many are hoping for a petroleum-led economic bump for the San Joaquin Valley, but where others see California losing its will to break away from fossil fuels.
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Leaders in Kern County, the heart of the state’s still-bustling oil country, approved a policy this week that will streamline the approval of drilling, and potentially allow nearly 2,700 new oil and gas wells annually. This would mean more than 30% more drill sites in California over the next 15 years.
A new ordinance being considered by the Kern County planning commission could bring more than 65,000 new oil wells to Kern County, but some locals are speaking out against this ordinance due to concerns over the environment.
City officials to discuss revisions to oil zoning for local gas, oil permitting Videos
and last updated 2021-02-09 02:44:04-05
KERN COUNTY, Calif. â Oil and gas remain an important topic in Kern county and come Thursday, county officials are expected to discuss revisions to a zoning ordinance focused on oil and gas local permitting.
This is an ordinance that s years in the making and its faced challenges along the way. The initial review was approved by the board of supervisors back in 2015, but last year after a court ruling it was challenged, so now the county s planning commission is revisiting this topic once more.