Federal Plan Proposes New Offshore Drilling Leases Along California Coast

The U.S. Department of the Interior announced a federal plan on Thursday to allow additional offshore drilling along the California coast, including six new offshore lease sales. The plan includes 1.27 billion acres of proposed lease sales across the United States and outlines development over the next five years.

California Coast Included in Offshore Leasing Plan

According to federal information released with the announcement, the California portion of the plan involves six new offshore lease opportunities. San Diego County, which includes 70 miles of coastline along the Pacific Ocean, is among the areas potentially affected by the expanded offshore drilling proposals.

The administration stated that the expanded leasing plan responds to reduced offshore drilling development under previous federal policies. Officials indicated that the plan is intended to support the offshore energy sector and maintain employment within the industry.

Survey Data Shows Public Opposition

Data from the Public Policy Institute of California shows that two out of three California residents oppose additional offshore oil drilling. This survey result highlights significant public concern regarding further drilling activity along the state’s coastline.

California leadership has previously communicated its stance to the federal government. In June, Attorney General Rob Bonta and several other states sent a letter opposing additional offshore drilling, formalizing their position on the matter.

Executive Order Enables Expansion of Offshore Development

The offshore leasing plan is enabled by an executive order signed in January by Donald Trump. The order encourages expanded energy development on federal lands and waters, including offshore regions.

Federal officials stated that the proposed leasing plan aims to maintain a strong offshore energy sector and bolster long-term energy production capacity. The Department of the Interior also released a map showing regions included in the proposed plan.

The proposal marks a significant step in future offshore energy development discussions and is expected to prompt continued review from state and federal authorities as the planning process advances.