The facts about oil, without the spin.
KnowOil.org is the Responsible Energy Council's public knowledge hub dedicated to one of the most misunderstood substances on earth: oil.
Oil touches almost everything in modern life: from the gasoline in your car to the plastic in your phone to the fertilizer that grows your food. Yet most people have no idea how it's found, produced, refined, or used in California. KnowOil.org is here to change that.
A resource built for everyone
Built for curious consumers, students, educators, and journalists, KnowOil.org delivers honest answers in plain language; sourced, accessible, and free.
The California story
California has one of the most complex oil economies in the world: a major producer, a major consumer, one of the most stringent regulatory environments, and a state actively working to reduce fossil fuel dependence, all at once. KnowOil.org covers it in depth.
Sourced information
Every fact on KnowOil.org is sourced using publicly available government data. References and sources are clearly indicated throughout the site.
The Supply Map
A first-of-its-kind visualization of California's dependence on foreign oil. Did you know California imports oil from Mexico and refined fuels from India, and that oil tankers can't sail through the Panama Canal? The Supply Map shows all of this and more.
KnowOil.org is free to access for everyone. Your donation keeps it that way.
Maintaining and expanding KnowOil.org requires ongoing research, writing, design, and web development.
All of that work is funded by donations to the Responsible Energy Council, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Your gift is fully tax-deductible.