Energy Secretary Directs Oil Restart Off California
Energy Secretary Chris Wright Sable Offshore California 2026
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright issued a formal directive on Friday, March 13, 2026, ordering Texas-based Sable Offshore Corp. to immediately restore operations at its Santa Ynez Unit and associated pipeline system off the coast of Southern California. Invoking emergency powers under the Defense Production Act (DPA), the Secretary stated that the move is essential to address “supply disruption risks” and bolster national security amid the ongoing maritime crisis in the Middle East. The facility, located in federal waters off Santa Barbara County, has been idled since May 2015, when a corroded pipeline ruptured and spilled over 140,000 gallons of crude oil at Refugio State Beach. According to official Department of Energy statements, the restart is intended to reduce the region’s dependence on foreign oil, specifically crude that typically transits through the currently blocked Strait of Hormuz.
The administration estimates that restoring the Santa Ynez Unit, which includes three offshore platforms and the Las Flores Canyon Processing Facility, could increase California’s in-state oil production by approximately 15 percent. Federal officials claim the facility is capable of producing 50,000 barrels of oil per day, potentially replacing nearly 1.5 million barrels of foreign imports each month. Secretary Wright emphasized that the order is critical for ensuring that West Coast military installations maintain access to reliable energy sources necessary for military readiness during the current conflict. Reports indicate that Sable Offshore informed local authorities shortly after the order that it intended to begin transporting oil within 24 hours, utilizing authorities delegated to the Energy Department through a recent executive order signed by President Donald Trump.
The federal directive has triggered an immediate and fierce legal confrontation with the State of California. Governor Gavin Newsom vehemently condemned the move as “illegal” and “reckless,” asserting that the Trump administration is attempting to override multiple binding court orders and state environmental laws. In a defiant response, Newsom argued that the administration is exploiting a “crisis of its own making” to bypass safety requirements and jeopardize the state’s $51 billion coastal economy. Environmental organizations have also joined the opposition, pointing out that the DPA has never before been used to compel a private company to resume production from damaged infrastructure while overriding state regulatory authority. As the administration continues its “energy dominance” agenda, the battle over the Santa Barbara coastline is expected to return to the federal courts, testing the limits of executive power during a national emergency.
