US energy secretary directs oil company to restore operations off California

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright has directed a Texas-based oil and gas company to restore operations in waters off southern California that were damaged by a 2015 oil spill, invoking the Defense Production Act. Restoring Sable Offshore Corp.’s Santa Ynez unit and pipeline off Santa Barbara aims to address supply disruption risks. Officials say the facility can produce about 50,000 barrels of oil per day, a 15% increase to California’s in-state oil production, replacing nearly 1.5 million barrels of foreign crude each month. California Gov. Gavin Newsom condemned the move, calling it “a political attempt to point the finger” at his state.