by Katy Grimes, E&E Legal Senior Media Fellow and California Globe Editor
As Appearing in the California Globe
Now that Gavin Newsom has created this mess, he’s directing the energy commission to do something to stop the refinery closures
How is it possible that in California, hard-working families must choose between gas or groceries, utility bills or rent?
The average cost for a gallon of regular gas in the U.S. today is $3.138.
California’s cost for that same gallon of regular gas is $4.500, the highest cost in the entire country, according to AAA. Hawaii even pays less for gas.
In 1988, the state of California only imported about 4.5% of all the oil that we consumed in our state. By 2020 we were importing over 70%.
Approximately 30% of the cost of a gallon of gas in California comes from taxes and fees.
In 2023, 20% of the cost of a gallon of gas in California came from taxes and fees, according to WSPA, while only 1% was attributable to net profits from the oil industry.
While Californians are suffering under the highest gas prices in the country, and more than 2.2 million Californians are behind on their utility bills, Governor Gavin Newsom and the state Legislature are prioritizing redistricting the electoral districts to squeeze Republicans out of 6 more U.S. House seats.
