For ads-free news, click here.
From Daily Caller: California Democrats are railing against state regulators for economic conditions they helped unleash now that a possible gas price crisis looms.
California’s Committee on Utilities and Energy grilled several state regulators on Wednesday about a possible gas price spike as two major oil refineries in California prepare to close, according to local news outlet KCRA. Despite their outrage, California Democrats have targeted the fossil fuel industry for years by creating a stringent regulatory climate, and energy companies — including their refining capacity — are withdrawing from the state, setting the table for a potentially massive 75% jump in gas prices.
California has the highest average per-gallon gas price at the pump compared to any other state, according to AAA gas price data. Meanwhile, California regulators have suggested increasing state involvement in refinery management, including the possibility of de facto state-owned refineries.
As new rules and regulations are enacted, companies are jumping ship. Last year, Phillips 66 announced plans to shut down its California refinery by October. Valero also announced a shut down, saying its Benicia refinery would close in April of 2026.
According to KCRA, “the two represent about 20% of the state’s refining capacity.”
While some lawmakers aren’t convinced that the regulations put California in the situation it’s in, Assemblyman David Alvarez, D-San Diego, was more reflective.
“I’m curious and a little bit frustrated as I sat here during the special session for many hours listening to you all,” Alvarez said during the regulator’s testimony. “Here we are more than six months after that, acting with urgency because price gouging and skyrocketing fuel costs, and I don’t hear today any evidence of that occurred, quite the contrary.”
“We have a crisis on our hand that may have been self-created by the actions perhaps taken by the state, by regulators,” Alvarez added.
As oil refiners plan to close, California Democratic lawmakers signal they’ve lost trust in state regulators in Gov. Newsom’s administration.
CA will need more oil to be shipped in from other countries, meaning more air pollution, tighter fuels market, and higher gas prices. pic.twitter.com/NNqJa0sNRO
— Ashley Zavala (@ZavalaA) May 29, 2025
Gavin Newsom and the Democrats just forced the closure of a major oil refinery. 12% of gasoline supply will go offline.
Result? Gas price hikes + giant tankers shipping oil half way round the world, spewing CO2.
These fools and bandits have done enough damage. Kick them out ✊ pic.twitter.com/N5WlDYBzxs
— steve hilton (@SteveHiltonx) April 17, 2025
CA Democrats are apparently now concerned about the damage they’ve done to our state’s gasoline and oil supplies. It’s a consequence of their own poor energy policies. The solution is undoing their own policies and allowing us to produce oil and gas in CA. https://t.co/zUXR9QutuC
— Vince Fong (@vfong) May 29, 2025
READ MORE at Daily Caller.
HA: "California Democrats are railing against state regulators for economic conditions they helped unleash now that a possible gas price crisis looms." https://t.co/uYmtYvbVnz pic.twitter.com/eh6EaSVlk1
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) May 30, 2025
The Dennis Michael Lynch Podcast archive is available below. Never miss an episode. Subscribe to the show by downloading The DML News App or go to Apple Podcasts.
