HR 2820119th CongressIn Committee

California Clean Coast Act of 2025

Introduced: Apr 10, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

California Clean Coast Act of 2025 would permanently bar oil and gas activities off California’s coastline by amending the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. Specifically, it adds a new subsection to Section 8 that prohibits preleasing, leasing, and related activities for oil and gas in areas of the Outer Continental Shelf located off the California coast, effective from the date of enactment. The bill preserves only those lease rights that were issued before enactment; all new oil and gas leasing would be prohibited thereafter. In short, once enacted, the federal government could not solicit or award new oil and gas leases off California, though existing pre-enactment leases would remain in effect.

Key Points

1Permanent ban on oil and gas leasing off the California coast, codified by adding new subsection (q) to Section 8 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.
2Prohibition covers preleasing, leasing, and related activities beginning on the enactment date.
3The prohibition does not affect rights under leases issued before the enactment date (i.e., existing pre-enactment leases remain valid).
4The provision explicitly states that, notwithstanding other laws, the California offshore area is off-limits for new oil and gas activities.
5The bill would be implemented through federal law and would be enforced by relevant federal agencies (e.g., the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management), with no stated mechanism for renewals or exceptions beyond the pre-enactment leases.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- Oil and gas industry and related service sectors that operate or would operate offshore California.- Federal agencies responsible for offshore leasing (e.g., Bureau of Ocean Energy Management) and related regulatory processes.- California coastal communities, including fishing, tourism, and local economies that may benefit from reduced risk of offshore oil activity and spills.Secondary group/area affected- States adjacent to California and other stakeholders concerned with energy supplies and prices.- Workers and businesses involved in offshore exploration, drilling, and support services who may face shifts or unemployment if leasing ends.- Environmental organizations and climate policy advocates who favor reducing fossil fuel development.Additional impacts- Potential environmental protection benefits for California’s coastline, including spill avoidance and ecosystem preservation.- Possible shifts in energy mix toward renewables or other energy sources within California and nationwide.- Legal and economic considerations regarding existing leases, ongoing projects, and potential future litigation or regulatory actions related to offshore energy development.

Generated by gpt-5-nano on Nov 18, 2025