Right now, an abandoned oil tanker carrying one million barrels of oil is burning in the Red Sea. This occurred after a group called the Houthis, who are involved in the Middle Eastern conflict, attacked the tanker. If the tanker spills its oil, it could become one of the largest environmental disasters in history—four times worse than the Exxon Valdez spill that devastated Alaska in 1989.
This crisis shows how dangerous it is for the environment and for us when we depend on oil from unstable regions. It also highlights a big issue for California, which imports over 75% of the oil we use from foreign countries.
It’s not just this one tanker. Since October 2023, there have been more than 80 attacks on ships in the Red Sea, making it a dangerous place for oil transport.
California used to be energy independent, but over time, state regulations and policies have made it harder for companies to produce oil locally. Now, the state imports most of its oil from other countries, many of which have poor environmental and labor practices. This not only puts California at the mercy of international oil prices but also increases our carbon footprint because of the pollution caused by shipping oil across the globe.
California spends $25 billion every year buying oil from foreign governments. That money leaves our state and supports industries that don’t have the same environmental, labor, or health standards we do. This increases California’s carbon footprint and contributes to the global demand that keeps the oil tanker industry thriving.
Imagine a California where the funds spent on foreign oil could be invested in the state’s infrastructure, creating jobs for Californians and ensuring that oil is produced in a way that meets California's high standards. The state would also reduce its exposure to international price fluctuations and geopolitical conflicts by keeping production local, helping to ease gasoline prices.
With its wealth of natural resources and advanced technology, California should be leading the charge toward energy independence, not backtracking into deeper reliance on foreign oil.