CIPA Pushes Back Against False Claims While Fighting for Real Solutions

While environmental activists are issuing press releases with misleading narratives, claiming that California is about to give the oil industry a free pass at the expense of environmental health, the California Independent Petroleum Association (CIPA) and its CEO Rock Zierman are pushing back against these falsehoods.

Let’s be clear: there is no “oil giveaway.” The budget trailer bill currently under discussion in the California legislature does not create loopholes or deregulate the industry.

What it does is address a broken permitting system that has left thousands of applications stuck in bureaucratic limbo, pushing California deeper into reliance on expensive foreign oil.

Zierman and CIPA VP of Government Affairs Sean Wallentine are meeting with legislators, correcting misinformation, and advocating for policies that stabilize in-state production.

Their message is clear: you cannot have lower gas prices or energy security without domestic oil production. And without a legislative fix, that production cannot happen.

For example, Kern County’s ordinance includes 89 mitigation measures supported by a 30,000-page Environmental Impact Report. This is a rigorous, court-validated framework that meets CEQA requirements. This is far from bypassing environmental standards. Operators would also still need a permit from the state to ensure compliance with downhole building standards.

Zierman and Wallentine are actively working to fix SB 1137, the setback bill that threatens thousands of existing wells and jobs across the state. They are advocating for a comprehensive solution that includes Kern permitting and a rollback of harmful laws, such as SB 1137.

These laws cripple our ability to invest, operate, and meet demand while pushing fuel prices higher and threatening refinery closures.