California’s Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom made a trip to Brazil in mid-November to promote his energy policies, but there are pressing issues back in California that can’t be ignored. Due to his initiatives, residents face some of the highest gas and electricity prices in the country. Many are suffering from an energy affordability crisis, which poses significant challenges to national security.
Since 2018, over 360 energy companies have exited California, largely because of weakened state regulations. New oil drilling permits have dropped a staggering 95% since Newsom took office in 2019.
The troubling result? California has seen oil production plummet by nearly 128 million barrels per day over the last five years, despite having the fifth-largest oil reserves in the nation. Newsom’s lack of support for domestic production has led to increased reliance on foreign oil.
Back in 1982, fewer than 6% of California’s crude oil came from outside the U.S. That figure has since skyrocketed to over 60%, based on data from Newsom’s California Energy Commission. Currently, Brazil contributes about 20% of California’s oil imports, with Iraq providing another 21%.
Meanwhile, California’s refining capabilities continue to decline.
By early 2026, the state is expected to lose nearly 20% of its refining capacity. If things don’t change soon, power outages, surging prices, and fuel shortages could become commonplace—not just for Californians but for millions along the West Coast dependent on California’s energy supplies.
This situation severely affects California’s pipeline viability; most require production of 90,000 barrels a day to remain operational. However, with current shortages, they’re barely managing 50,000 barrels daily, resulting in operators losing about $2 million a month.
Crimson Midstream, which runs California’s largest crude oil pipeline network, struggles to maintain operations amid what many call Sacramento’s incompetence. The ongoing battle against domestic energy production has generated so much unpredictability that the San Pablo Bay Pipeline faces a possible shutdown in the new year. This would further destabilize California’s already fragile energy system.
These misguided policies have engineered fuel shortages, sent gas prices soaring for families, and caused an uptick in gasoline imports. California is now needing to purchase refined gasoline from offshore reserves, which forces the state to pay a premium to buy back its own oil.
But it’s more than just high prices; Newsom’s energy strategy also impacts military readiness.
California hosts several U.S. military installations tied to the Indo-Pacific Command. The men and women stationed there need access to fuel to fulfill their missions quickly. Military-grade aviation fuel, which California’s refineries can process, is crucial. In 2024, these bases are projected to use about 10 million gallons of gasoline, but the closure of two refineries is expected to cut jet fuel production by at least 600,000 gallons daily.
No amount of political spin can obscure the threat Newsom’s policies pose to national security.
Currently, Congress is focused on countering the growing threat from China, which calls for heightened readiness in the Indo-Pacific area. Instead of collaborating to address this issue and strengthen California’s role in national security, Newsom’s continued cuts to refinery capacity and local oil production make matters worse.
If California’s fuel network remains stifled by underutilized pipelines and overburdened refineries, the military’s fuel supply chain supporting West Coast operations will be at risk.
Newsom’s focus on progressive policies and presidential aspirations seems to overshadow these pressing realities. This not only comes off as incompetent but also as irresponsible.
To revitalize California’s energy prospects and deter adversaries, the state needs to ramp up permitting significantly, expand drilling, and reinstate advanced oil recovery methods. This is essential for keeping pipelines functional while working to enhance refining capacity.
There should be collaboration with Congress and the federal administration to boost domestic energy production sufficient to meet California’s demands and bolster national security. Yet, it appears Newsom is more interested in opposing these necessary measures than finding solutions for Californians seeking affordable energy.
Ultimately, Newsom’s energy policies are at the root of California’s affordability issues. The choice is clear for Governor Newsom: continue on the current path of scarcity and dependence or pivot towards supporting California’s energy producers and restoring genuine energy independence. What happens next could profoundly affect the state’s economy and national security.
