Sacramento, CA…California’s Progressive political elite hate fossil fuels so much they are willing to impoverish their citizens to punish “Big Oil” and speed up a transition to an even more expensive green energy future.
Governor Newsom wants zero gas-powered cars sold in California by 2035, which sends a strong signal to refiners about the long-term value of investment in the Golden State. The state makes permitting for refinery expansion or upgrades extraordinarily difficult and time-consuming for oil companies. On top of that, California has high labor costs and the highest corporate tax rate in the western states. Our electricity costs are among the highest in the country, making it tough for power-intensive refineries to operate profitably.
All of these headwinds are created by policy decisions from Sacramento, and they make California a rough place to succeed for the oil industry – on purpose.
It appears the oil industry is getting the message and California consumers will soon be paying the price. Two major oil refiners recently announced they are ceasing operations in the state. What will this mean for people at the pump?
A recent study by Michael A. Mische at the University of Southern California highlights the looming affordability crisis, finding that the closure of Phillips 66 and Valero refineries will slash California’s refining capacity by 21 percent by 2026, potentially driving prices to $7.35-$8.44 per gallon.
Newsom and the other green energy devotees in the legislature are always quick to blame the oil industry for price gouging or financial trickery every time gas prices go up, and every few years they announce another commission to study what the greedy corporations are doing to make our gas so expensive.
But California’s gas prices, the highest in the nation at $4.82 per gallon as of April 2025, are a direct result of the state’s own policies, not corporate greed.
If oil companies were gouging, why are prices in neighboring western states like Nevada ($3.85) or Arizona ($3.30) significantly lower? Are the companies somehow less greedy in other states? Does that make sense to anyone?
It’s easy to see why Californians pay so much for gas. California’s unique blend requirements, Cap and Trade fees, and $1.47 per gallon in taxes and regulatory costs—set to rise to $2.83 by 2026—explain the disparity. No other western state stacks on so many costs.
The state’s own Attorney General found no evidence of widespread price gouging, confirming that California’s policies, not corporate profits, are the culprit. I’m sure when gas hits $8 per gallon, they will convene another task force to overlook the obvious.
High fuel prices are a regressive tax that hit poor and rural Californians the hardest. For the poor, gas already takes up a larger share of low-income budgets. This will make that fact dramatically worse. Rural Californians drive longer distances for work, school, or essentials, often in larger vehicles like trucks needed for agricultural, construction or industrial work.
But even though the harm will be more concentrated on some groups, every working Californian and every industry will feel the pain of the gas price sticker shock.
California must reverse course.
Without reforming its business climate and drawing refiners back, the state risks not only economic stagnation but making Californians poorer as they bear the cost of Sacramento’s ideological crusade.
Senator Ted Gaines (Ret.) was elected to represent the Board of Equalization’s First District. He is a leading taxpayer advocate, defender of Prop. 13, and is committed to providing trustworthy and transparent representation for nearly ten million constituents in 34 counties of northern, eastern, and southern California. For more information, visit www.boe.ca.gov/Gaines.
Government Driving Gas Prices Through the Roof! By BOE Chair Senator Ted Gaines added by admin on
View all posts by admin →
When are u Tards going to wake up? My sipho hose is ready and willing, I know where most of you live in my community, no problem, thanks for the fill up!
Don’t waste your time siphoning gas tanks on live oak ct. they run there cars on empty.
Do you Trumpers know that Ted Gaines is in the closet?
By looking at him, it should be obvious.
So what, 70% of Democrats are transgender, anyway, I thought the left were tolerant of ways? Oh that’s right, the party of Hate and Violence are also hypocrites, felons on parole and so easily manipulated they vote for diaper wearing dementia patients. AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
It would be nice. If the President of the United States. Didn’t except a 400 million dollar bribe. From the country probably responsible. For the 9/11 attacks. On the World Trade Center.
It’s wonderful having a president. Who doesn’t like following the Constitution. Just blows off the Supreme Court’s 9 to zero decision. Let’s all rise and pardon more criminals. Just buy your way out of prison. You republicans must be very impressed. Sorry about your retirement accounts
So you like paying $2 a gallon more for gas than every other state? Rural Californians and especially those working in the trades that have to drive trucks are paying a direct tax of thousands a year!!!! Do you care about that???
Just wait, since to of the oil refineries are closing because of the CA Socialist Party, the cost of gas in 2026 is expected to be $8 a gallon. Imagine what food prices will be and everything else because of the transportation cost?
Get real. The reason trump lies about super low gas prices. It’s because the economy has taken a major downturn. Less businesses Less shipping Less consumption of fuel. It’s a negative sign for our economy
Wake the fuck up. These idiot criminal billionaires are sucking you into giving up your rights. Your freedom of speech. Freedom of the press. For what … transgender athletes… just suck up the bait ….
$5 is not cheap fuel. But hey if you are a retired Govt worker with no idea how an economy really works then yes Trump is just an evil orange man
Love the 400 million dollar bribe. Love the pardons for convicted criminals. Love the not following the constitution. Deporting American citizens with stage four cancer.
How much damage are you fine people. Going to let this president do to the country. Before you actually realize. He is someone that should already be in prison. For insurrection. On the peaceful transfer of power. In the two twenty election. Just Saying
Question for the week. Who pays tariffs. The country China. Or the American people ? Correct. The American people. Example. Prices at Wall Mart. Skyrocketing
Thanks to Trump’s latest flurry of pardons, he’s now pardoned most of the Republican congressmen convicted of felonies in the 21st century.
The new total is nine — and counting.
I want to hear more about Dementia Gate!
Trump’s brain is turning to pudding right in front of us
I shot my pudding on you’re face Sniveler, Anti
California politicians create this problem and all you can do is complain about the President
MUSK WE NEED YOU!
He would like you to buy one of his electric cars
There just sore losers with no life.
Could elon drive a tessler off a cliff ???
Mr. Know it All I have something I’d like to drive in your ass.
Tesla up again over 6 bucks, 363.00 per share up up and away.
You^^^The Tesla up again doofus, you have no idea why its up do you??
You see, the market reacts to Trumps erratic economic practices by going up and down like a yo-yo. Tesla included. Tesla’s brand has been irreversibly scarred by the white racist Musk forever. Why do you think Musk is badmouthing Trumps budget bill? Musk is reeling, trying to stop the bleeding. Now, not only do liberal owning Tesla operators hate Musk, and detest the day they bought his product, MAGAts hate him too because of his latest flipflop stance on TACO Trumps proposed budget. And guess what?? Quite a few republican Senators don’t like it either. It won’t pass muster in the Senate.
Do you, Mr. Tesla up again, know that Teslas sales are DOWN 49% in Europe since he took on his DOGE Brigade of faggoty little computer nerds??? Of course you don’t. You watch FOX and Newsmax, and eat up their lies and bullshit. Just like you eat up Trumps. You, Mr. Tesla up again, are the true definition of moron. Illiterate, uneducated, sheep like moron.
Republican’s ever notice democrats are full of gas?
Ted Gaines misses the point that the world is going green, but the Republicans are stuck in a fossil fuel mindset.
The savings in using the abundant solar we have is a win-win for your health, the economy for you and the state.
E cars now have a 400+ range and are priced much lower than before.
Why pay a utility, or fossil fuel company when the choice is clear.
You have to think, and that is something Conservatives don’t like to do.
They prefer to do what they know- pay, pay, pay in health, your economy and the state.
The future is clean and green, the rest of the world gets this, and is well on it’s way there
The Republicans owned by the fossil fuel cos, and utilities, choose $ over common sense, and joining the rest of the world to slow planet heating.
The future predictions, as in the past on climate change are correct, it will be very hot , with severe storms as we have now.
The Republicans sticking their heads in the sand, and saying no, only makes the future worse.
My batteries are running low is there a charging station on Ebbetts Pass?
^^Yeah, your wife told me your batteries are “running low”. That’s why I visit whilest thou art away.
She does have the moves…….
What was wrong with freedom of speech. The trump administration and MAGA are trying to stop freethinkers and risk takers. Feels like repression
Your boy elon is a crack head ….
I’d love to stick it in your crack!
Breaking News. Trump in rapid cognitive decline. Don’t take my words. This is from several experts. In aging and cognitive decline. Absolutely shocking….
Ninety deals in ninety days. Said the donald. Actually the real number is … You guessed right …. Zero
Eighty million for a birthday party. For an insurrectionist draft dodger. Make his criminal ass pay for it. For fu— sake
Let’s see …. Take a 400 million dollar bribe. Spend a billion of tax payers money. Turn it into Air Force One. And then have trump take it with him. Republicans how exactly does this help the American people ????
Vegetable joe did it.
DON’T WORRY CALIFORNIA CITIZENS, BECAUSE OF PRESIDENT JOE BIDENS LAST POLICIES HE WROTE UP WITH GOVERNOR NEWSOM’S RECOMMENDATIONS, IT’S BEEN RECENTLY REPORTED THE THE NATIONS INFLATION IS AT A 4 YEAR LOW, THANKS TO DEMOCRATS UNWAVERING SYMPATHY TO ALL WHO LIVE UNDER THE NAZIS IN POWER.
The most beneficial phrase through this beneficial material that will be located on the on the web… Agen Togel
Trump is out of his mind. Any questions. Said Biden was assonated in 2020. And is currently a cyborg. No Kidding. This mental patient is President of the United States.
Republicans thanks for your bull shit about supporting the freedom of the American people
At this time there you should acquire with out expense, see the initial regarding these types of information.
——— collective cures