Camarillo City Council
May 12, 2026
Policy Committee Meeting
Dear Mayor and Councilmembers,
California Natural Resources Group (“CalNRG”) previously submitted correspondence to the Policy Committee communicating our concerns regarding the proposed Climate First: Replacing Oil & Gas Resolution. As this item now comes before the full City Council for consideration, we respectfully reiterate our opposition to the Resolution and appreciate the opportunity to provide additional comment.
CalNRG is an independent oil and gas producer headquartered in Ventura County. We employ a local workforce of more than 200 employees and contractors, including many individuals who reside in the City of Camarillo. Across our four business verticals, more than half of our workforce consists of women, veterans, people of color, and formerly incarcerated individuals. Our average non-executive compensation exceeds $135,000 annually.
First, there is no oil production occurring within the City of Camarillo. The Resolution asks the City to take a position on an industry that does not operate within city limits.
While the intent behind the Resolution may be well meaning, the subject matter extends beyond the City’s direct jurisdiction and practical responsibility.
Second, California’s local energy producers operate under some of the strictest environmental and workplace regulations in the world. Companies like CalNRG are regulated by numerous local, state, and federal agencies, including CalGEM, the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District, the California State Fire Marshal, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Producing energy locally under California’s standards is safer, cleaner, and more environmentally responsible than increasing dependence on foreign imports from countries with substantially weaker environmental protections. Replacing California production with foreign production is not an environmental victory.
Third, California families are already struggling under rising energy and fuel costs.
Policies that discourage local production and constrain supply place additional pressure on affordability, particularly for working families who rely on dependable transportation and energy every day. These impacts are not theoretical, they are already being felt across the state.
Lastly, CalNRG supports innovation and responsible environmental progress within our community. Many local producers are actively investing in remediation, infrastructure improvements, and renewable energy initiatives. For example, CalNRG previously led the removal of a former refinery and several wells in the Oxnard Plain, returning nearly 30 acres of land to agricultural use. We believe meaningful environmental progress comes through practical collaboration and investment, not symbolic resolutions that create uncertainty for local employers and industries.
For these reasons, we respectfully request that the City Council decline to adopt the Resolution.
Sincerely,
C. Olivia Simonson
Legal & Communications