'Catastrophic' if state destroys Kern oil, gas

Kern County Dist. 1 Supervisor Mick Gleason said the state's goal of being fossil-fuel-free by 2045 "is not in the best interests of Kern County or for the security of the United States." Speaking at the Jan. 9 East Kern Economic Alliance meeting at Cerro Coso Community College in Ridgecrest, Gleason said, "I think Sacramento is nuts. Their regulations are directly targeting Kern County. We have invited the governor's staff [Jan. 14] and I am going to lay into them." He said the other challenge is water, and agriculture also is under assault from Sacramento. Supervisor Zack Scrivner's east side Field Deputy Laura Lynne Wyatt said the impact of the state's move to shut down the oil and gas industry "is catastrophic."

While the governor is working to kill the oil and gas industry, he provided significant help in securing funding for earthquake repairs at China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station. David Janiec of the China Lake Alliance said that Gov. Gavin Newsom, Congressman Kevin McCarthy and Sen. Dianne Feinstein worked together to secure $627 million for immediate small repairs and construction, $1.152 million for major construction in FY 2020 and $1.2166 million for FY 2021 from the Defense Dept. budget. Congress passed the nation's budget on Dec. 19.

Nathan Francis land manager of Rio Tinto Borates & Lithium, said the global company of 50,000 employees posted its first full year without one fatality.