Working Valley families and small business owners are already getting crushed by sky high gas prices, and the state’s anti oil policies could soon drive prices even higher. Analysts warn California could see prices hit seven or eight dollars this year, driven by refinery shutdowns and falling production that is putting major infrastructure at risk.

Laws contributing to this pain at the pump are not only adding another burden on struggling families. They also may be illegal.

SB 1137’s 3,200 foot setback has disrupted production, stranded investments, and placed hundreds of thousands of mineral and royalty owners in jeopardy. These are retirees, farmers, nonprofits, educational institutions, and working families right here in California. Our state has an estimated 600,000 oil and gas royalty owners, and many rely on this income to stay afloat. When producers are forced to shut down, the royalty checks local families depend on shut down too.

In recent weeks, these concerns have finally reached the courts. Pacific Legal Foundation, one of America’s leading constitutional litigation firms, has filed a federal lawsuit challenging SB 1137 after working for more than 18 months with NARO-CA to document the damage these policies have caused. At the same time, the United States Department of Justice has filed its own suit arguing that California overstepped its authority by interfering with energy production on federal lands. These legal actions confirm what Valley residents have been saying for years: Sacramento’s anti oil agenda is not just harmful. It may violate the Constitution.

Click here to read the article at The Sun.