Chevron Tops California Lobbying as Oil Industry Hits Regulation

Chevron Corp. spent more on lobbying in California than any other company during the second quarter of this year as the oil industry seeks to blunt state policies it blames for shuttered refineries and higher costs.

The company spent nearly $3.9 million on influencing policymakers in the state from April through June, according to disclosures filed Thursday. Chevron’s spending was followed by the Western States Petroleum Association, which spent about $3 million during the same period.

Most of Chevron’s spending went to a separate organization, Californians for Energy Independence, which has been running an advertising campaign blaming the state’s relatively ...