Governor Newsom's Policy Shift: Balancing Climate and Oil Interests

Once a fierce critic of Big Oil, California Gov. Gavin Newsom is now working to keep refineries open and stabilize in-state fuel supplies — a move that reflects the complex political and economic realities of California’s clean energy transition. POLITICO’s Alex Nieves breaks down what this pivot means for California’s climate agenda and how it exposes a deeper tension within the Democratic Party over how to balance achieving environmental goals with relieving economic pressures. Plus, the Department of Interior said it’s rescinding language that requires the establishment of a five-year schedule for holding offshore renewable energy lease sales.

Alex Nieves is the California transportation reporter at POLITICO.

Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and producer of POLITICO Energy. 

Alex Keeney is a senior audio producer at POLITICO. 

Gloria Gonzalez is the deputy energy editor for POLITICO. 

Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO.

For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switch

And for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy

Music courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Intro: https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/w8U5eODhQj/

Outro: https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/onBJjiDLVE/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices