exclusive: Nearly half of California’s Republican congressional delegation sent a letter on Tuesday warning Gov. Gavin Newsom that his strict fossil fuel policies endanger national security, in part because of the Golden State’s military superiority.
The letter, led by Rep. David Valadao of the San Joaquin Valley, expressed “grave concern” that Newsom “intentionally injured his… hamstring.”[ing]”The impact of oil refining hurts not only California taxpayers, but also the U.S. military.
Valadao said the state has more than two dozen active military installations that rely on fossil fuels like oil and petroleum and would have to rely on foreign sources without more comprehensive refining capabilities in California.
“[S]If your administration continues on this short-sighted path to energy management, we can expect that the state’s military installations and other first lines of defense will be entirely reliant on foreign fuel by mid-century,” the letter reads.
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California Gov. Gavin Newsom recently came under fire from critics for describing his state as a “national model” for addressing homelessness. (California Governor Gavin Newsom YouTube Channel)
The letter, also signed by Reps. Ken Calvert, Young Kim, Jay Obernolte and John Duarte, said California is now left with The next nine refineries, citing a 2021 Newsom memo, seek to “phase out oil extraction.”
The memo sets a 2045 deadline for halting all production, and the letter states that no emergency policy is in place if residents continue to use 1.8 million barrels of oil per day.
“When we rely on foreign oil, we become too vulnerable to global supply disruptions and price spikes, which can severely impact our economy and our ability to maintain a strong military presence,” the letter warned.
“By increasing domestic energy production and reducing our reliance on foreign oil, we can protect ourselves from these risks and ensure we have a stable and reliable source of energy.”
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Rep. David Valadao, R-Calif. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Martin, File)
The letter acknowledges Newsom’s quest to shift the state toward green energy power, but adds that a balance must be struck before such infrastructure can be tested and put into use.
It also warned of potential disaster for troops and civilians in California, as photos of signs depicting local gas prices exceeding $6 and $7 a gallon have gone viral in recent years.
“Your call for a premature end to our state’s fossil fuel industry has serious consequences not only for California’s military infrastructure, but also for the future lack of affordability and availability of transportation fuels, which could be a potential disaster,” the letter reads. disaster.
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Aerial view of the California State Capitol Building in Sacramento. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
The letter also asks Newsom to provide lawmakers with information by Sept. 1, including whether and what strategies are in place to ensure energy procurement at military installations remains operational.
Lawmakers also asked Newsom to answer questions about the 55,000 fossil fuel industry jobs that could be displaced and how to help Californians cope with expected price spikes and dependence on foreign oil resources.
Fox News Digital reached out to Newsom’s office for comment but had not received a response as of press time.
California is represented in Congress by 40 Democrats and 12 Republicans.
