Kern County will resume issuing oil and gas permits next year after a local judge lifted an order that prevented permits from being issued.

The decision follows a new state law that clears the way for new oil production in Kern County.

The backstory: California lawmakers struck a deal earlier this year to pass Senate Bill 237, which was authored by Sen. Melissa Hurtado (D–Bakersfield). • SB 237 was a gut-and-amend deal to streamline environmental approvals for new wells in Kern County as part of a package of energy bills in the wake of major oil refiners announcing plans to close down their California plants.

The big picture: Since SB 237 jumpstarted the process for new oil wells in California, the recent decision from Kern County Superior Court Judge Gregory Pulskamp was effectively

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