CIPA Responds to CEC Fuel Report: Time to Prioritize California Workers, California Oil, and California Communities

June 27, 2025

SACRAMENTO, CA — The California Independent Petroleum Association (CIPA) today responded to the California Energy Commission’s (CEC) report on high fuel prices, appreciating that it contained a major emphasis on the need to boost in-state oil production.

“We agree with the Energy Commission on one major point: if California is serious about stabilizing gas prices, it must increase local crude production and stop the rise of expensive foreign imports," said Rock Zierman, Chief Executive Officer of CIPA. "California imports 78% of its oil, sending over $25 billion a year to countries with minimal environmental and labor standards, while in-state resources and skilled workers remain on the sidelines.”

The CEC recommendations include allowing Kern County to immediately resume local control of oil and gas permitting, a long-overdue step that CIPA strongly supports. However, the report also advocates for restricting safe and proven technologies like well stimulation and stopping production in hastily adopted setback zones. These actions will only increase our dependence on foreign oil and drive jobs out of state.

“We produce the only climate-compliant oil in the world, right here in California,” said Zierman. “If we’re going to use oil, it should come from California producers operating under the world’s strictest environmental, labor, and safety standards. Let’s not increase tankers from Saudi Arabia and the Amazon Rainforest.”

The oil extraction industry employs 55,000 Californians, many from disadvantaged communities, with an average annual income of $123,000. These jobs support our economy, fund local services, and help working families. Ongoing permitting delays and redundant regulations threaten their livelihoods while increasing pollution from foreign tanker traffic.

CIPA will continue working with the CEC and state policymakers to push for commonsense reforms, starting with the immediate approval of pending well permits, reversing SB 1137, and establishing a unified regulatory approach that enables local production to supply local demand.

It’s time to put California first—our jobs, our environment, our economy.

Read the California Energy Commission Report Here.

To schedule an interview with Rock Zierman, contact Hector Barajas at Hector@Amplify360inc.com or (323) 314-3342. 

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