California’s ban on the sale of fur (see Monday’s story) wasn’t the only bill to be signed into law on Saturday. As it turns out, California Gov. Gavin Newsom also signed a law designed to counter White House plans to increase oil and gas production on protected land.
The measure bars any California leasing authority from allowing pipelines or other oil and gas infrastructure to be built on state property, making it difficult for drilling to occur, because federally protected areas are adjacent to state-owned land. The law sends a clear message that California will “fight to protect these beautiful lands for current and future generations”.