Controversial California oil pipeline can continue to operate, judge rules

Why This Matters

Key context: <p>State sought to stop system off coast of Santa Barbara from resuming operations after Trump ordered its reopening </p><p>A controversial oil pipeline can continue to operate off the California coast after a judge gave it the green light this week, despite the opposition of state regulators and environmental groups.</p><p>The system off the coast of Santa Barbara <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/17/oil-california-pipeline-iran">resumed operations</a> earlier this year for the first time in more than a decade after Donald Trump ordered Sable Offshore Corporation to reopen it, citing US energy needs during the war in Iran. It had been closed since 2015 when a burst pipe caused one of California’s worst oil spills, and its reopening was supposed to be governed by a federal consent decree.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/20/california-oil-pipeline-trump-judge-ruling">Continue reading...</a> This development from The Guardian highlights ongoing changes in the sector.