California looks to block offshore drilling

The California Legislature has approved a measure aimed at blocking new offshore oil drilling in federal waters of the state’s coast.
    
The Senate sent Gov. Jerry Brown a bill that would ban docks, pipelines or other onshore infrastructure needed to support new offshore drilling rigs.
    
Democratic Sen. Hannah Beth Jackson of Santa Barbara introduced the legislation after President Donald Trump’s administration announced plans to allow oil and gas drilling off most of the nation’s coastline.
    
California can’t directly block drilling in waters controlled by the federal government but hopes to drive up costs so it’s unprofitable.
    
In the 1980s, many coastal cities passed ordinances to block such infrastructure when President Ronald Reagan looked to expand offshore drilling. Many of those laws remain in place.