Chevron is doing what every sensible CA-based company should do, if possible, leave the state. But what about the big oil lawsuit?
Goodbye California, Hello Texas
The Wall Street Journal reports Chevron to Leave California for Texas, as Regulations Mount in Golden State
The second-largest U.S. oil company said Friday it plans to move its global headquarters to Houston, the U.S. energy industry capital. Chevron has built a stronghold of about 7,000 employees there, partly from a matriculation of executives and white-collar workers decamping from California.
The relocation plans come weeks after billionaire Elon Musk said X and SpaceX would move their headquarters to Austin, out of California. Musk had moved Tesla’s headquarters to Texas a few years ago. Several other large U.S. companies, including Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Oracle, have moved from blue states such as California to red states such as Texas.
Chevron CEO Mike Wirth said the company wants to move its employees to one central hub. He also acknowledged the company has been vocal about its differences of opinion with California on energy policy.
“We believe California has a number of policies that raise costs, that hurt consumers, that discourage investment and ultimately we think that’s not good for the economy in California and for consumers,” Wirth said in an interview.
California Lawsuit Claims Big Oil Deceived Public on Climate Change
CBS News reports California Lawsuit Claims Big Oil Deceived Public on Climate Change
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced his office has filed a lawsuit against five big oil and gas companies as well as the American Petroleum Institute for misleading the public about climate change and for engaging in harmful environmental practices.
The defendants include Shell, Chevron, ExxonMobil, ConocoPhilips, BP and the American Petroleum Institute.
The attorney general argues the defendants have known for decades that the burning of fossil fuels contributes to climate change but they have misled and lied to the public about it.
“Oil and gas companies have privately known the truth for decades — that the burning of fossil fuels leads to climate change — but have fed us lies and mistruths to further their record-breaking profits at the expense of our environment. Enough is enough,” the AG said in a press release.
“With our lawsuit, California becomes the largest geographic area and the largest economy to take these giant oil companies to court. From extreme heat to drought and water shortages, the climate crisis they have caused is undeniable. It is time they pay to abate the harm they have caused. We will meet the moment and fight tirelessly on behalf of all Californians, in particular those who live in environmental justice communities.”
Kassie Siegel, the director of the Climate Law Institute at the Center for Biological Diversity, called the lawsuit a gamechanger.
“I think this lawsuit will be helpful to all of California’s efforts to address climate change. That’s because it seeks to stop Big Oil from lying about the science and blocking climate solutions,” Siegel said.
According to the complaint, the companies are liable for creating a public nuisance, damage to natural resources, product liability and false advertising, misleading environmental marketing and unlawful, unfair and fraudulent business practices.
“I think this is going to be a turning point in the race to save the planet. You know climate change, it didn’t just happen,” Siegel said.
A Gamechanger Response
The proper response should be easy to spot. Oil companies should not only leave the state, but stop selling and producing products in the state.
There are Fourteen Refineries in California as of 2023. And if the state is going to take oil companies to court over goods it believes cause harm, then California logically should not want those goods.
If the refiners do not cease and desist voluntarily, the California should shut them down for “creating a public nuisance, damage to natural resources, product liability and false advertising, misleading environmental marketing and unlawful, and unfair and fraudulent business practices.“
That would indeed be the “gamechanger” for California that Siegel seeks.
In general, it is madness to do business in California unless that is the only place you can do business.
The local burger joint can’t easily move, but the owner can say to hell with it all, move out of state and start a new business elsewhere.
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May 20: California Governor Escalates the War on Gasoline Impacting Neighboring States
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June 17, 2024: Hoot of the Day: California Proposes Restraining Orders to Stop Thieves
July 16, 2024: Elon Musk to Move SpaceX from CA to TX Over School Transgender Policy
Just leave! Let California Fend for Itself