Oil companies confirm talks over California climate programs

Oil company officials say they are in talks with Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration about changes to California’s carbon-emissions programs, including his program requiring companies to buy pollution credits.

Western States Petroleum Association President Catherine Reheis-Boyd says the group has been meeting on behalf of California’s oil and gas industry “to improve the state’s current climate change programs.”

The Los Angeles Times first reported on the talks.

A spokeswoman for Brown, Deborah Hoffman, did not respond to a question on the talks, but said in a statement that the cap-and-trade program must be extended “and we will work hard to get that done.”

The current program only has authority to operate until 2020. Brown’s administration is expected to introduce a plan extending it to 2030 next week.