Surrounded by local, state and national officials, California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks during a news conference at Bolsa Chica State Beach in Huntington Beach, site of the the recent offshore oil spill, on Tuesday, October 5, 2021. waters.
Mark Rightmire | MediaNews Group | Orange County Register via Getty Images
California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday proposed a statewide 3,200-foot buffer zone to separate homes, schools, hospitals and other populated areas from oil and gas wells.
The draft rule, released by the state’s oil regulator California Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM), would not ban existing wells within those areas but would require new pollution controls.
California is the seventh-largest oil-producing state in the country but has no rule or standard for the distance that active wells need to be from communities. More than 2 million state residents live within 2,500 feet of an operational oil and gas well, and another 5 million, or 14% of the California’s population, are within 1 mile, according to an analysis by the non-profit FracTracker Alliance.
People who live near oil and gas drilling sites are at greater risk of preterm births, asthma, respiratory disease and cancer, research shows. Oil drilling disproportionately affects Black and Latino residents in major oil fields like Los Angeles County and Kern County.
The new restrictions could take a couple years to go into effect and will likely face pushback from the state’s oil and gas industry. The Western States Petroleum Association and the State Building and Construction Trades Council have opposed a statewide mandate to impose setbacks, arguing that buffer zones will raise fuel costs and harm workers.
More from CNBC Climate:
Read more about how businesses and consumers are fighting and adapting to climate change:
“Our reliance on fossil fuels has resulted in more kids getting asthma, more children born with birth defects, and more communities exposed to toxic, dangerous chemicals,” Newsom said in a statement. “California is taking a significant step to protect the more than two million residents who live within a half-mile of oil drilling sites, many in low-income and communities of color.”
Environmental advocacy groupshave long urged the governor to instate a 2,500-foot setback between fossil fuel operations and communities, as well as place an immediate moratorium on all new oil and gas permits in those zones. Legislation to ban fracking and instate a buffer zone failed this year in a state committee vote.
Other oil producing states like Colorado, Pennsylvania and Texas have imposed some form of setback between properties and oil operations.
If adopted, California’s 3,200-foot setback would be the largest in the country. Newsom initially directed regulators to study buffer zones around oil wells in 2019, but they didn’t meet the December 2020 deadline to release that information.
“The largest statewide buffer zone in the country is a huge victory for frontline communities that have fought for health protections for years,” Kassie Siegel, director of the Center for Biological Diversity’s Climate Law Institute, said in a statement.
Is this the tiny “kei” car everyone is talking about? Not exactly. Jeep maker Stellantis announced plans to bring the tiny Fiat Topolino EV, which sells for under $12,000 in Europe, to the US.
Fiat plans to launch the tiny Topolino EV in the US
Less than a week after President Trump called Japan’s kei cars “really cute” during a White House meeting with Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa, Ford’s Jim Farley, GM’s Mary Barra, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk in attendance, we might actually get one in the US.
At Miami Art Week, Fiat CEO Olivier Francois announced that the company is planning to launch the ultra-compact Topolino EV in the US.
After a few appearances in the US, including at last month’s LA Auto Show, Francois said the tiny electric car is “creating tremendous excitement among consumers.”
Advertisement – scroll for more content
So much so that the company is actually planning to make it available for US buyers. “I’m happy to share that we’ll be bringing the Fiat Topolino to the US,” Francois said.
Although the company didn’t reveal any other information beyond “more details to come next year,” we have a good idea of what to expect.
The new Fiat Topolino (Source: Stellantis)
The Topolino, which translates to “little mouse” in Italian, is currently sold in Europe and South America. In Europe, it starts at 9,890 euros, or roughly $11,500.
At just 2,530 mm (99.6″) long, the Topolino is classified as an electric “quadricycle,” rather than a standard car. In some EU countries, like Germany, it can be driven by 15-year-olds.
Powered by a 5.4 kWh battery pack and an 8 hp electric motor, the tiny EV delivers up to 75 km (46 miles) of WLTP range. It can also be fully charged in four hours using a 240V outlet. We will find out more details soon, including prices and US specs.
Can Fiat’s tiny EV win over US buyers? With America’s love for bigger trucks and SUVs, it might be a tough sell. Fiat sold just 1,528 vehicles in the US last year, down from nearly 44,000 in 2012, its first full sales year.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.More.
EcoFlow has transitioned from its Cyber Week deals into its newly launched Christmas Holiday Sale with up to 68% discounts, extra savings, FREE gifts, and even two rounds of giveaways that you can be eligible for by giving your email and joining its mailing list. We’re seeing plenty of Black Friday deals returning during this sale, like the DELTA 2 Max Portable Power Station with two 220W solar panels at $1,139.05 shipped, after using the code 25EFXMAFF at checkout for an additional 5% off, which beats out Amazon’s pricing by $160.This bundle carries a large $3,197 MSRP directly from the brand, but at other marketplaces, like Amazon, you’ll often find it only climbing as high as $2,099 these days. We saw this same rate (along with the extra savings) appear during the previous Cyber Week sale event after cutting it from its $1,214 Black Friday pricing, and now its coming back around again, giving you $960 off the going rate ($2,058 off the MSRP) and landing it back at the best price we have tracked – plus, you’ll get a FREE Power Hat ($99 value). Be sure to head below for the rest of EcoFlow’s Christmas Holiday Sale’s lineup.
We’re seeing a much larger spread of bonus savings/gifts during EcoFlow’s Christmas Holiday Sale, starting with the 5% bonus savings you can get on most offers by using the code 25EFXMAFF at checkout. From there, you’ll have four tiers of FREE gifts (aside from free gifts attached to select units): orders of $300 to $499 get a free RIVER series bag, orders from $500 to $2,499 get a free Power Hat, orders of $2,500 to $3,499 get a free refurbished RIVER 2 Max power station, and orders above $3,500 get two free 160W portable solar panels. There are also the two giveaways that you can join on the sale’s main landing page here, with two winners getting select power stations and six getting gift cards – to be drawn/announced on December 18 and 28, 2025.
Advertisement – scroll for more content
One of EcoFlow’s more popular backup power solutions with a well-rounded build, the DELTA 2 Max power station comes housing LiFePO4 battery cells with a starting 2,048Wh capacity, which you can bolster up to 6,144Wh with extra batteries added on. There are 15 versatile output ports to deliver up to 2,400W of steady juice to devices and appliances, while also having the surging power rise as high as 3,400W.
This bundle gives you four ways to recharge the station, starting with the 440W of solar input that puts you closer to its 1,000W maximum – of which, only 800W is needed to fully recharge in 2.3 hours, so expect about double that time with this package. An AC outlet can get it back to 80% in up to 68 minutes, or you can use AC and solar together for faster rates. As it comes, you can use your car’s auxiliary port as you drive, or with the purchase of the brand’s 800W alternator charger, you can recharge in 2.6 hours of driving.
***Note: The prices below have not had the bonus savings factored in, and not all of the offers will be eligible to stack the discount on their initial price cuts, like the DELTA 3 1000 Air, for example. Be sure to still use the code 25EFXMAFF at checkout to ensure you’re getting the best deals!
Until December 10, score up to $500 savings on all of Aventon’s e-bikes and get it ahead of Christmas – deals start from $999
Aventon still has its ongoing extended Black Friday Sale offering up to $500 discounts across its e-bike lineup, with a deadline to receive your new ride ahead of Christmas set for December 10. We’re seeing all the newest models join the savings train here, with things starting lowest on the Soltera 2.5 Lightweight Commuter e-bike at $999 shipped. Normally going for $1,199 at full price, we first saw this low rate pop up back in late August, and its back around during this holiday shopping season giving you $200 savings at the best tracked price.
If you want to learn more about this model, or browse the entire lineup of e-bike deals and get your order in before the December 10 shipping deadline, be sure to check out our original coverage of this sale here.
Several Anker eufy solar cameras, smart locks, more are seeing up to 50% savings back to lows from $50
Through Anker’s official eufy Amazon storefront, we’re seeing the brand offer several of its smart home security devices back at Black Friday rates or the next-best prices. One such model heading back to its best pricing is the popular Anker eufy SoloCam S220 Wireless Solar Security Camera starting at $49.99 shipped, while its 4-camera bundle is back at $179.99 shipped. These two bundles usually fetch full $100 or $280 prices, with the deals here having first been spotted during Amazon’s full Black Friday sale event. You’re getting 50% and 36% markdowns for the second time here while the deals last, cutting $50 and $100 off the going rates to land them back at their all-time lowest prices.
EcoFlow’s first 48-hour Christmas Holiday flash sale returns the DELTA Pro 3 power station to $2,099 low, more
As part of its newly launched Christmas Holiday Sale, EcoFlow has also launched the first of this event’s 48-hour flash sales taking up to 65% off four offers, with the sole power station unit in the bunch being the DELTA Pro 3 Portable Power Station with a FREE folding wagon cart at $2,099 shipped. While this unit has a $3,699 MSRP, you’ll find it more often starting around $2,699, particularly at Amazon, where it is priced without the wagon cart $200 higher. Discounts over the year have only seen it come down this low in price once before, during the Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale event, with things otherwise keeping above $2,299. You’re getting another chance at the all-time lowest price here, complete with $600 off the going rate and $1,600 off the MSRP. Head below to check out the full lineup of flash deals while they last through December 10.
The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.More.
XCharge NA and Cellerate Power have brought online what they say is New England’s fastest EV charging site in Vermont, right at the base of Stratton Mountain Resort.
The site opened to the public in late October 2025 and offers 400-kilowatt ultra-fast charging to a part of the state that previously topped out at much slower speeds.
The site is powered by XCharge NA’s C7 Ultra-Fast Chargers, which can deliver up to 400 kW — about two to three times faster than most other fast chargers in the region. Cellerate Power says the nearest alternative fast-charging option is about 30 minutes away and limited to 150 kW for CCS-equipped vehicles only.
By contrast, the Winhall site supports both NACS and CCS connectors, meaning it can serve virtually all EV models.
Advertisement – scroll for more content
Cellerate Power, a Vermont-based company focused on expanding equitable access to infrastructure, says the project aims to make EV travel more practical in a state where cold winters and mountainous terrain can amplify range anxiety.
The C7 chargers also feature large 21.5-inch screens, which XCharge NA and Cellerate Power claim can enhance the charging experience while promoting local economic development.
Aatish Patel, cofounder and president of XCharge NA, says the Vermont deployment marks the first North American installation of its C7 Ultra-Fast Chargers. “It will expand access to fast charging in regions where it was previously unavailable and offer drivers a more efficient, reliable charging experience.”
The charging station is located at 40 VT Route 30 in Winhall, Vermont, 05340, at the base of the Stratton Mountain Ski Resort access road, making it a convenient stop for locals and travelers heading to and from southern Vermont’s ski and recreation areas.
If you’re looking to replace your old HVAC equipment, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you’re finding a trusted, reliable HVAC installer near you that offers competitive pricing on heat pumps, check out EnergySage. EnergySage is a free service that makes it easy for you to get a heat pump. They have pre-vetted heat pump installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high quality solutions. Plus, it’s free to use!
Your personalized heat pump quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here. – *ad
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.More.