Newsom said he would sign a bill requiring companies making more than $1 billion in annual revenue to disclose a wide range of greenhouse gas emissions. He also said he would sign legislation requiring companies making more than $500 million annually to disclose how climate change can affect their businesses financially and how they plan to adapt.
In California, there are more than 5,000 wells without an active owner able to properly seal and close them, the state estimates. These are known as orphan wells. The state already requires companies to post bonds to pay for well cleanup, but the amount often falls short, Alexander said. The sector makes up about a quarter of California’s greenhouse gas emissions, the state estimates. Those emissions stem from sources including electricity used to power buildings and refrigerants used for cooling.