Part 7/12:
In California’s Kern County, oil has historically driven the economy, shaping local identity with symbols like high school sports teams called "Oilmen." However, strict regulations and a federal push towards renewable energy are causing oil production to decline sharply. Towns such as Taft are experiencing economic downturns—population decline, high poverty rates, and lost jobs—despite increasing global demand for oil. The state’s plans to phase out oil by 2045 threaten to reshape the region's economic foundation.