Overview
- California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed suit Monday in San Francisco federal court to block Energy Secretary Chris Wright’s March 13 Defense Production Act order directing a restart of Sable’s Las Flores pipelines.
- Sable Offshore said it began shipping on March 14 after the order, while the state says the restart lacks Fire Marshal approval and violates a 2020 consent decree tied to the Refugio spill.
- A federal judge declined an emergency request to immediately enforce that consent decree, calling the filing procedurally improper but allowing the fight to proceed through regular motions.
- Chevron plans to buy an initial 20,000 barrels per day from Sable for its El Segundo refinery, according to Bloomberg‑cited reports that Chevron has not confirmed.
- Environmental groups say the restart will not cut gas prices and raises coastal risk, while the administration and Sable cite wartime supply disruptions and argue federal powers preempt state rules.