<\/a>California is leading the rest of the nation in its push for using renewable energy, driving electric cars and installing solar panels.<\/p>\n

But its next economic growth will most likely come from the industry known for its old-fashioned derricks sucking the crude oil out of the ground. <\/span><\/p>\n

As Golden State is doing some soul-searching figuring out how to raise the budget and create news jobs, the oil industry is willing to fill the gap. <\/span><\/p>\n

In recent years, new technologies developed a method called fracking, <\/span>which involves blasting a mixture of water, sand and chemicals into the underground to reach <\/span>previously unaccessible oil and gas shales. <\/span><\/p>\n

The method revolutionized the way the oil is extracted allowing petroleum companies multiply their production and give a start to the unprecedented economic growth.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since 2008, fracking boosted<\/span> the oil production by 80 percent, increasing its daily amount to 11 million barrels, supplying more oil and gas than Iran, Nigeria and Kuwait combined.<\/span><\/p>\n

Last year, for the first time in two decades, the U.S. oil export exceeded the import, challenging the world\u2019s petroleum giants such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar.<\/span><\/p>\n

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RT the good news: For the 1st time in nearly two decades, we're importing less oil than we're producing. pic.twitter.com\/M30ewhgKqi<\/a><\/p>\n

— White House Archived (@ObamaWhiteHouse) November 14, 2013<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n