Kern County also leads the state in the production of electricity through a variety of energy sources, ranging from natural gas fired power plants and cogeneration facilities to wind, solar, hydro, geothermal and biomass facilities. In fact, the amount of electricity produced is more than is needed locally and the surplus is transmitted for use in homes and businesses throughout California.

             Oil

          Kern County plays a critical role in meeting the nation’s energy needs.

• Kern County produces 77% of California’s crude oil and 65% of the state’s natural gas production. This represents approximately 10% of the nation’s total oil production.
• 37,000 of California’s 43,000 producing oil wells and 150 of the 1,232 producing gas wells are in Kern County.
• An average of 2,000 new wells are drilled each year in Kern County.
• The five largest producing oil fields are in Kern County.
• Kern County refinery operations range from large full-scale operations to smaller, specialty facilities, producing many refined products, including gasoline, diesel fuel, propane, motor oil, asphalt and ammonia.
  
  Cogeneration
  The high efficiency cogeneration facilities play a vital role in Kern County’s oil producing operations. These facilities produce two sources of energy in the form of steam and electricity. The steam is injected into the oil reservoir and allows the heavy oil to flow and be produced efficiently, economically and with reduced air emissions.
  
  Wind
  Eastern Kern County enjoys strong wind energy production operations in an area known as the Tehachapi Wind Resources Area. This area generates almost half of the wind energy produced in the state. The wind energy industry provides approximately 1% of the state’s overall electricity needs.
  
  Solar
  
  Kern County enjoys more than 300 days of sunlight each year, making it an ideal location for solar electrical systems. Homeowners and businesses continue to install these types of systems and take advantage of this abundant natural resource.
  
  Kern County’s Energy Industry
  
  A good neighbor in the community and the environment, the Kern County energy industry provides many benefits to the community.

ü      An Important Economic Base

The energy industry is one of the top employers in Kern County. The oil industry also contributes about 33% of the property tax base, far more than any other industry, which supports local government, service programs and education.

ü      Community Support

Kern County’s energy industry supports many community programs through its contributions to civic, health and human services, educational, arts and environmental programs. Individual company employees also donate volunteer time to tutoring, mentorship and community service projects.

ü      Protecting the Environment

The Kern County energy industry has a firm commitment to protecting the environment. Through their operations, many companies have gone beyond standard environmental compliance by implementing additional programs designed to reduce air, waste and water pollution.

 

Kern County Energy Quick Facts

• Kern County produces about 550,000 barrels of crude oil per day, 68% of the state’s total production; enough to fuel about 5 ½ million automobiles.
• If Kern County were a state, it would rank fourth in the U.S. in oil production.
• Three of the six largest oil fields in the U.S. are located in Kern County.
• About 2,400 wells were drilled in Kern County in 2000, more than any other county in the nation.
• Kern County produces 57% of the natural gas produced in California. Elk Hills is the largest gas producing field in the state.
• Kern County is the world capital for steam and thermal oil recovery technology.
• The Kern County Oil & Energy Industry employs more than 10,000 people.
• The oil industry provides one-third of Kern County’s property tax base.
• The deepest well ever drilled in California was drilled in Elk Hills to 24,426’.
• Kern County produces almost 3,000 megawatts of electrical energy, enough to provide energy to about 3 million households.
• Cogeneration, efficiently producing steam and electricity, generates over 1,700 megawatts.
• The Tehachapi Wind Resource area produces over 650 megawatts, almost half of California’s wind-generated electricity.
• Within two years, stand-alone power plants will be generating an additional 2,500 megawatts of electricity in Kern County.