By MIRANDA GREEN | Special To The Washington Post | Published: April 10, 2021 WASCO, Calif. The long shadows cast here in the San Joaquin Valley come from oil derricks, not palm trees. Two hours inland from the Pacific Ocean, the arid terrain is peppered with petroleum and gas wells. The black gold that lies underground became the region s lifeblood after it was discovered in 1899, and Kern County is still responsible for more than 70% of oil and 80% of natural gas produced in California. We are very proud of our oil industry and our contribution to national security, said Dave Noerr, the mayor of Taft, a city of 9,400 in the southwest foothills. We re just a bunch of hard-working, America-loving good ol boys.
California county set for major expansion in oil, gas drilling
washingtonpost.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from washingtonpost.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
As California faces climate crisis, one county approves more than 40,000 new oil wells
thehill.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thehill.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.