The federal government has just taken a step that could open the door to new offshore oil drilling off California’s coast. On February 26, 2026, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced that it will prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for proposed offshore oil and gas lease sales in the Northern, Central, and Southern California planning areas of the Outer Continental Shelf. 

On June 17th, 2025 Canary Media reported that several anti-offshore wind groups—some with known ties to the fossil fuel industry—asked the U.S. Department of Transportation to cancel the $426 million federal INFRA grant for the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation, and Conservation District’s (District) offshore wind heavy lift marine terminal project.

ast night, the Senate Parliamentarian ruled that the public land sell-off plan that Utah Senator Lee inserted into the budget reconciliation bill does not meet the criteria necessary to be included in the bill. That means the bill will require 60 Senators’ votes instead of a simple majority. 

On November 14, 2024, BOEM published a Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for proposed offshore wind projects in California.

Happy New Year from EPIC!

Sarah Schaefer, Beth Burks, and Colin Fiske joined the show to reflect on the second national Week Without Driving.

A draft of the long-delayed Climate Action Plan is here.