Kern County is set to resume issuing oil and gas permits on Jan. 2, 2026, marking a significant development following a decade-long legal battle.
Jeff Flores, the Kern County District 3 Supervisor, expressed optimism, stating, “This is really a new day because we have a local ordinance, we have clearance from the court, and we have state legislation backing up what we did.”
He emphasized the potential for job creation and economic growth, noting, “We import 75% of our oil from overseas when we can do it right here in our backyard with local production.”
Oilfields in North Bakersfield.{ } (KBAK/KBFX File Photo)
Despite the optimism, Rock Zierman, CEO of the California Independent Petroleum Association, warned of potential challenges.
“We are concerned, though, that there are going to be some headwinds that may result in not as many wells being drilled as we had hoped,” he said, citing a “refinery crisis” due to the closure of refineries in California.
Flores remains confident that the county will proceed with issuing permits without facing appeals from environmental groups, bolstered by Senate Bill 237, which supports state oil production while maintaining environmental standards.
However, Colin O’Brien, an attorney with Earthjustice, criticized the county’s decision in a statement, “We think it is a shame the county intends to sacrifice residents’ health to temporarily boost a failing industry, but we stand behind our successful litigation that forced better protections against air pollution, use of scarce water supplies, and other significant public health and environmental harms from oil and gas development.”
Flores added that the county could issue up to 2,000 permits per year.