This April 2020 report from the Berkeley Center for Law, Energy, and the Environment presents legal and policy options for a phaseout of oil and gas production in California, including:
- Enhancing regulatory authority over drilling by clarifying the need for the California Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM, the state’s primary oil and gas regulator) to prioritize environmental and climate impacts over production;
- Heightening scrutiny on permitting via comprehensive environmental review with mandatory, site-specific mitigation measures under the California Environmental Quality Act;
- Instituting minimum statewide drilling setbacks of at least 2,500 feet or more from sensitive sites, such as schools, parks, and houses;
- Implementing a per-barrel or per-well severance tax and dedicate the revenue to projects that further the goal of transitioning away from fossil fuel; and
- Tasking the California Air Resources Board with devising and implementing a comprehensive plan for a phase-out of all in-state oil and gas production by a date that tracks with overall climate goals.