Review of fossil fuel subsidy-relevant policies in California

Even California has scores of policies and programs with the potential to subsidize oil and gas exploration, production, refining, transport, and consumption. These conflict with the state's long-term commitment to be a clean energy leader. Earth Track reviewed the policy environment in the state to provide an initial roadmap of the many points of interaction between state and federal policy and the fossil fuel sector. The analysis evaluates these programs to differentiate those where subsidies to the sector seem likely to be significant from those where costs are either small or covered by user fees on industry. The review includes not only cash transfers, but also tax breaks, credit support, subsidized access to mineral resources, exemptions from standard regulatory requirements, and risk shifting.