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Kern County chairman says county is "back in the business" of oil permitting, touts renewables and new investments
Summary
At the 2026 State of the County address, Chairman Philip Peters said Kern County has resumed issuing oil-and-gas permits, reported nearly 300 permits as of Jan. 2 and highlighted more than 13,000 MW of approved solar and nearly 7,000 MW of battery storage alongside new industrial projects.
Kern County Supervisor Philip Peters, the 2026 chairman of the Kern County Board of Supervisors, told an audience at the County Administrative Center that the county has resumed issuing oil‑and‑gas drilling permits and is seeing renewed private investment while continuing to approve large renewable‑energy projects.
"As of January 2, we've received nearly 300 oil related permits and, just in the first 2 weeks with 127 new wells on the horizon," Peters said during his State of the County address, linking the permitting resumption to livelihoods in oil‑dependent communities.
Peters framed the permitting update as part of…
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