News Releases

Newsom’s Signature On Three Laws To Hold Oil Drillers Accountable Will Protect LA Residents From the Toxic Harms Of Drilling

September 25, 2024  ·  Jamie Court

Surrounded by wells in the Inglewood Oil field, Governor Newsom signed legislation to shut down 600 oil wells

Consumer Watchdog Testifies That Minimum Inventories Are Necessary To Combat Gasoline Price Spikes, Publishes Consumer Alert Making Case For Reform

September 19, 2024  ·  Jamie Court

Sacramento, CA — Consumer Watchdog President Jamie Court offered testimony (opens in new tab) today in the legislative special session that California needs to establish a minimum...

Northern California Gasoline Price Spike Is Poster Child For Need For Newsom’s Special Session Reform, Consumer Watchdog Says

September 10, 2024  ·  Jamie Court

Sacramento, CA —  Bay Area gasoline prices have spiked 20 cents over the last week, driven by the cycle of refinery maintenance and low inventories that Governor Newsom...

Three Bills To Hold Oil Drillers Accountable and Make “Polluters Pay” Pass Legislature and Go To Governor’s Desk

September 1, 2024  ·  Jamie Court

Sacramento, CA – In the last hours of the California legislative session, critical legislation holding oil drillers accountable for their pollution passed the California legislature and...

Gasoline Refinery Stocks Reach Lowest Point In Nearly One Year, Driving Newsom Call for Legislation Requiring CA Oil Refiners To Maintain Minimum Inventories, SB 950

August 29, 2024  ·  Jamie Court

Sacramento, CA – State data shows that refinery gasoline stocks, specifically the amount of California blending components on hand at oil refineries, has shrunk to its lowest...

Three Bills For Polluter Accountability Advance To California Senate Floor

August 16, 2024  ·  Jamie Court

Sacramento, CA – Critical legislation holding oil drillers accountable for their pollution has passed the California Senate Appropriations Committee and moves to the California Senate for...

Governor’s Plan For Minimum Inventories Will Help Protect Against Gasoline Price Spikes 

August 15, 2024  ·  Jamie Court

Los Angeles, CA – A plan announced by Governor Newsom today for end-of-the-session legislation requiring refiners to keep a minimum number of days of gasoline...

CA Oil Well Regulator Steps Down One Week After Groups Complain to Governor About Conflict Of Interest In Decisions About Orphan Wells And Midnight Permits

August 9, 2024  ·  Jamie Court

Sacramento, CA – A 30+ year veteran of California’s oil and gas oversight agency is resigning one week after Consumer Watchdog and FracTracker Alliance questioned...

Groups Question Oil Industry Influence Over CALGEM As Newsom Well Regulator Approves Midnight Permits & Fails To Require Well Bonding

August 5, 2024  ·  Liza Tucker

Los Angeles, CA – Oil regulators approved 35 new oil and gas well drilling permits (opens in new tab) in the second quarter of 2024, about half of...

Gap Between US and CA Gas Prices Shrinks to 89 cents; Oil Refiner Accountability Measures Working To Keep Gas Prices Lower

July 30, 2024  ·  Jamie Court

Los Angeles, CA –  The gap between gasoline prices in California and the United States remained under $1 for the third straight week, showing the power...

Bill Charging Low Production Oil Wells Advances In California Senate

June 26, 2024  ·  Jamie Court

Sacramento, CA – Legislation charging $10,000 per day to oil wells producing less than 15 barrels per day within a half mile of a community passed...

Bill To Hold Oil Drillers Legally Liable Fails To Come Up For Vote

May 24, 2024  ·  Jamie Court

Sacramento, CA – Legislation holding oil drillers liable for health harms caused by their wells within a half mile of a community failed to come...