Energy Security Is National Security: Why California Can’t Afford Its Production Decline

State laws threatening oil production harm veterans, families, and the military infrastructure that depends on a stable supply of domestic fuel.

As California has become increasingly dependent on imported fuels, concerns are rising about the national security implications of this shift. For decades, California ranked among America’s top oil producing states, but today more than 65 percent of the oil we consume is imported, often from unstable regions that lack California’s strict environmental standards.

This dependence exposes California to global volatility. Conflicts, embargoes, and regional instability can disrupt supply lines and intensify the fuel price pressures Californians already face.

Analysts say the recent arrest of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro could lead to America gaining access to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves. However, the situation remains fraught with uncertainty as a Maduro ally has now taken the country’s helm, only highlighting how risky it is to depend on unstable regions for our fuel.

Meanwhile, the recent escalation involving Houthi rebels in Yemen following Israel’s recognition of Somaliland illustrates how quickly tensions can threaten shipping through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. A single vessel blockage in 2021 demonstrated how fragile these routes are, and the Strait of Hormuz — where a third of California’s imported oil originates — remains one of the most vulnerable chokepoints in the world.

California does not need to remain in this position. The state has the resources to rebuild energy security, but policy decisions over the last decade have driven production downward and made the situation increasingly urgent.

A national-security analysis titled “California Energy & Fuel Policies: A Clear and Present Threat to National Security and Force Readiness?” by Assembly member Stan Ellis, USC professor Michael Mische, and U.S. Navy veteran Michael Ariza details how sharply the state’s energy posture has deteriorated. California now produces less than 23 percent of the petroleum it consumes, with in-state output falling more than 68 percent since 1991. Much of the remaining supply arrives on non U.S. tankers traveling through high-risk global chokepoints. The study warns that this dependence, combined with policies reducing in state production, creates vulnerabilities for U.S. military readiness, as declining production threatens key California pipelines the Department of Defense relies on for aviation fuel and other essential supplies.

To reverse this decline, policymakers must address state laws contributing to the problem. SB 1137 and AB 3233 are two examples of statutes that should be repealed immediately. SB 1137 imposes a 3,200 foot setback drawn not around the well, but around any “sensitive receptor,” including homes, schools, and businesses. This means long standing wells can be forced to shut down simply because new development is built nearby. AB 3233 grants local governments broad authority to restrict or prohibit drilling even when operations are safe and essential to regional fuel supplies. These measures undermine the production needed to sustain California’s energy network, including military supply lines.

These policies also harm California’s royalty owners, who are often farmers, retirees, teachers, and working families rather than corporations or large investors. Many are veterans who rely on modest royalty income to support their households. Mineral rights are private property protected under the Constitution, and when state policies eliminate the ability to produce those minerals, they strip ordinary Californians of income and economic security.

Protecting royalty owners’ rights means protecting the citizens who have powered this state for generations. Restricting in state production without regard for these individuals undermines thousands of livelihoods, including many belonging to those who have served our country.

Reversing harmful policies, restoring lawful access to mineral rights, and strengthening California’s production capacity are essential steps toward rebuilding the resilience national security demands. In a world of rising global threats, California must choose to stand with its citizens, its veterans, its military infrastructure, and the long term security of its energy future.