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Trump orders oil production to restart off Santa Barbara County

March 15, 2026

By KAREN VELIE

President Donald Trump on Friday directed Sable Offshore to resume oil production off the coast of Santa Barbara under the Defense Production Act. Sable Offshore has been unable to produce oil because of ongoing disagreements over permitting its Santa Ynez pipeline.

Sable is slated to produce approxamatly 50,000 barrels of oil per day, “a 15% increase to California’s in-state oil production, that can replace nearly 1.5 million barrels of foreign crude each month,” according to the Department of Energy.

It is estimated that more than 60 percent of the oil refined in California is shipped in from overseas, including oil that travels through the Strait of Hormuz.

“The Trump Administration remains committed to putting all Americans and their energy security first,” U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said in a statement. “Unfortunately, some state leaders have not adhered to those same principles, with potentially disastrous consequences not just for their residents, but also our national security.

“Today’s order will strengthen America’s oil supply and restore a pipeline system vital to our national security and defense, ensuring that the West Coast military installations have the reliable energy critical to military readiness.”

Congressman Salud Carbajal hit back saying that Trump is using the war in Iran to override the will of California and Santa Barbara County residents.

“The reality is that restarting the Sable project would produce nowhere near enough oil to lower the skyrocketing gas prices families are facing,” Carbajal said. “His reckless war is causing immense damage, and jamming the Sable project through is a hollow solution.”

For more than six months, state and federal regulators have battled over the reopening of the Santa Ynez pipeline, which is needed to transport the oil. While the State Fire Marshal argues Sable had not yet completed all of the repairs necessary to restart the pipeline, federal regulators claim they have jurisdictional control.

The Defense Production Act grants the president powers to ensure the nation’s defense by expanding and expediting the supply of materials and services from the domestic industrial base.

In 2015, a pipe owned by Plains All American Pipeline ruptured near Refugio State Beach in Santa Barbara County, causing more than 100,000 gallons of oil to spill. About 21,000 gallons flowed into a culvert and then into a ditch that drained into the ocean.

The spill spread over 9 miles of mostly sandy beaches and led to the closure of the three offshore drilling platforms and the pipeline, which are now owned by Sable.

In May 2025, Sable resumed oil production in federal waters offshore of Santa Barbara County. It started extracting oil from one of three platforms that had been closed since the 2015 spill.

The resumption of offshore oil production began just a month after the California Coastal Commission fined Sable $18 million and ordered a halt to their work for not obtaining necessary permits. The company disputes the Coastal Commission’s finding, arguing it has all the required permits for its operations.

Environmental groups, including the Center for Biological Diversity, have criticized the offshore oil production restart, citing risks to sensitive habits and species.

Before the Iran War started, Sabel argued that restarting oil production off the coast of Santa Barbara was in the national interest – an argument environmental groups claim is fear mongering.

“This oil isn’t going to bring the price of oil down, not by one cent,” said Jeremy Frankel, an attorney with the Environmental Defense Center. “Trump is using a war that he started to increase profits for his friends in the oil business.”

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I love hearing the TDS fueled LOW IQ libs complaining about turning on the production of oil off our California coast. If it was Clinton, Obama or Trader Joe starting production of oil of the California coast again, these same imbeciles would be praising their Demoncrat President. DJT is doing what all three of these presidents should have done during their presidency…obliterated Iran!!!!!


9

The impact of the extra oil on the West Coast supply is real, but negligible.

This will reduce the price per gallon by 1-2 cents.

Nationally the impact is about 1/3 cent per gallon.


-21

Let me guess you also believe that since illegal aliens commit fewer total crimes than the US citizen and those here legally we should not commit resources to the illegal problem?


5

I am very curious to see what the anti-windmill people are going to say. All the environmental and aesthetic arguments apply to oil rigs far more than to offshore wind. If they’re opposed then I will respect that at least they’re honest anti-growth anti-development NIMBYs. If they’re mute or supportive, I think that gives the game away, it’s just MAGA culture war Idiocracy.


-37

Correct that aesthetic and environmental issues apply to oil platforms. The main differences are that oil rigs provide a lot more value in terms of energy produced, and can be recycled should they ever go out of service. While oil spills are generally not positive, natural oil seeps occur all over this area, both underwater and on land. Oil is a natural substance, and bacteria consume it.


25

The entire world operates on oil and oil derived products. Every modern, safe, healthy, and mobile society would disappear within 6 months without oil.


Windmills are not necessary, when better and much more efficient methods of energy production are at hand. Windmills in the ocean, are the

travesty of environmentally backward thinking.


32

Some things should be on a need-to-know basis, telling the whole world what, where and when may be asking for trouble. Not to be sinical, it does seem like media wants to be the first to tell.


-1

Lets see if this makes sense… We receive no oil from Iran, very little from the middle east but are restarting oil wells on the west coast under the Defense Act because trump had a “feeling” Iran was going to attack.

Makes complete sense.


-13

C’mon man; this is simple elementary school economics. The petroleum market is globally integrated, any supply disruption affects customers somewhere, who then compete with customers for supplies that usually go to them. Prices rise globally.


Surely you comprehend this, and comprehend why energy independence is a national security issue.


And dunno what you’re on about Trump “having a feeling”, but I guarantee his security intel is much more informed than you, or any other citizen is.


21

The USA has been energy independent for years. Long before trump. Here is Trump saying how the war will end. They are that dumb. Or…the war will end when Israel tells him. When you elect a compromised pedophile demented minds will do wacky things.


https://fox17.com/news/nation-world/trump-says-iran-conflict-will-end-when-he-feels-it-in-my-bones-israel-missiles-strait-of-hormuz-truth-social


1

What would your life be without Trump?


0

Hah! An embarrassingly obtuse statement! Wiki US energy independence, and try to grasp the significant difference between petroleum independence and total energy(net kW) independence. If you don’t have both, outcountry suppliers have leverage on you. We achieved both under Trumps 1st term when he interrupted the Feds foolish war against hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon producers.


No do you seemto grasp how all nations and administrations use propaganda statements while contesting with other nations. You see so focused on breathlessly raging against any policy facet you dislike to appreciate wider objectives.


-3

Too stupid to believe isn’t it? Alternative facts combined with trumps feelings? Israel recognized early on how easy trump is manipulated.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-iran-war-white-house-briefing-b2931933.html


0

Here is a crazy idea, use CA oil to resupply the US strategic oil reserves or sell it to countries that do need it.


24

The USA already makes more oil than we use currently. China buys the most Iranian oil. You gonna sell California oil to China? Great idea!! Maybe that’s Trump plan as well.


-15

So since China is going to buy oil from someone, nothing we agree to will every change their oil consumption, we should let China buy from one of our enemies and let them spend the money in attacks on us rather than we sell China oil and we receive the money?


-3

Keep digging Flipside! It’s fun to watch!


0

We could just drill thousands more wells, to make up for the loss from California.


Or, we could simply turn the switches back on, on existing wells.


19

Salud Carbajal on 3/11/26 in Op-Ed published by CCN: “we have an affordability crisis on the central coast. Watch me on my affordability tour talk to people about more government handouts” (inflationary solutions). Also Salud Carbajal on 3/16/26: “increasing the supply of locally produced oil by 10-15% won’t lower prices in any Significant Way, it’s a hollow solution” (increased supply is a deflationary solution, with the added benefit of bringing $100k jobs BACK to the central coast which is profitable for everyone from the schools that benefit from tax revenue to the service industry that benefits from discretionary spending). Go back to Econ101, Salud!

1.5 million barrels a month = 18 million barrels a year @ $90 a barrel = $1.62Billion added to local economy. Yes, I voted for this!


36

You voted for war. That’s what you voted for.


-42

Bet you have a Ukrainian flag topsheet and comforter.


12

Along with an Iran, Canuck, EU, Palestine, Venezuela, and rainbow flags.

“I support the current thing.”


-6

Independent here. I tend to look at each issue on its own. I generally oppose wars.


5

BTW we have been at war with Iran for at least 50 years, not sure you rememeber when they help US citizens hostage after stroming the US Embassy


25

Yup. I am of that age. I remember the fall of Saigon, the year that Iran held our embassy staff hostage, the Beirut barrack attack, etc. It was all traumatic. But, the US has never declared war with Iran. The current administration has made a huge mistake getting dragged into this war. AIPAC is pulling all the strings here. At the current war spending rate, we will outspend even the most exaggerated doge savings in a few more weeks.


2

Don’t forget the war with North Korea is still going on, we just have a peace treaty in place waiting for signatures.


0

Here you go…What to know about Joe Kent, Trump’s former counterterrorism chief | AP News


MAGA will turn on Kent in 3, 2, 1…


1

Trump is helping California save itself despite what the installed politicians here say.

Carbajal works for the people that are trying to destroy our state.


43

Good….


49