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New California law will speed cleanup of idle oil wells
CalMattersCalifornia will accelerate cleanup of the state’s idle oil wells, shut down one low-producing oilfield and allow cities and counties to restrict oil drilling under three measures that Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law today.
Under one of the new laws, Assembly Bill 2716, an oilfield in unincorporated Los Angeles County will be shut down, with oil wells plugged by the end of 2030. Another new law, Assembly Bill 1866, requires oil companies to eliminate between 5% and 15% of their idle wells each year between 2025 and 2027, ramping up to between 10% and 20% in all subsequent years.
Addressing drilling of new wells, the third law, Assembly Bill 3233, would give local governments the authority to “limit or prohibit oil and gas operations or development in its jurisdiction.” The measure was prompted by court decisions that blocked local ordinances in Monterey County and Los Angeles.
Under one of the new laws, Assembly Bill 2716, an oilfield in unincorporated Los Angeles County will be shut down, with oil wells plugged by the end of 2030. Another new law, Assembly Bill 1866, requires oil companies to eliminate between 5% and 15% of their idle wells each year between 2025 and 2027, ramping up to between 10% and 20% in all subsequent years.
Addressing drilling of new wells, the third law, Assembly Bill 3233, would give local governments the authority to “limit or prohibit oil and gas operations or development in its jurisdiction.” The measure was prompted by court decisions that blocked local ordinances in Monterey County and Los Angeles.