California’s energy situation is getting messy, and the story behind it isn’t what most people think. Mark sits down with Mike Umbro, founder of Californians for Energy & Science, to break down how policy decisions, refinery shutdowns, and halted oil production are reshaping the state’s entire energy mix. They dig into why geothermal isn’t the quick fix it’s made out to be, how rising energy costs and job losses are hitting local communities, and the surprising environmental fallout from natural oil seeps along the coast. It’s a raw, honest look at what happens when politics and energy collide, straight from someone who’s been in the trenches.

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00:00 - Intro
03:58 - California Oil and Gas Industry Overview
06:38 - Santa Barbara Channel Environmental Issues
09:10 - California Energy Commission Hearings
18:40 - Offshore Oil Exploration in California
19:30 - Sable Offshore Energy Insights
23:50 - SB 237 and Coastal Commission Impacts
26:30 - Restarting Sycamore's Significance for California
29:55 - Environmental Benefits of Responsible Oil Production
40:44 - Economic Consequences of Inaction
43:43 - SYU Crude and Import Displacement
49:00 - Final Thoughts on Energy Policy
51:29 - Outro

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