An overview of gas prices across the nation reveals ongoing struggles for drivers, especially stark in California compared to other states.
As of Saturday, the average cost for a gallon of regular gasoline in California reached $5.70, marking an increase of about 5 cents from the day before and over $1 more than just a month prior, as noted by the American Automobile Association.
This price hike has been part of a consistent rise since the onset of the conflict in Iran.
Prior to the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran that rattled global oil markets, California’s average was $4.642, significantly higher than the national average of $2.982.
The contrast is especially pronounced, except in some areas of Washington state where prices also exceed $5, based on data from GasBuddy, a website helping drivers locate cheaper fuel.
Some regions across the country still enjoy prices below $3 per gallon.
California’s predicament has been aggravated by Governor Gavin Newsom’s environmental initiatives, which some lawmakers and experts fear might push prices past $8 per gallon.
Drivers in the state are hit with a “California premium,” which encompasses elevated state excise and sales taxes, in addition to costs associated with the state’s climate programs.
Additionally, California mandates a specific, more costly fuel blend intended to reduce smog, which can only be produced by local refineries and a few others in certain Asian countries.
A concerning message from Chevron earlier this month warned Governor Newsom that these climate policies could lead to economic distress for California.
Chevron’s executives cautioned that the environmental regulations might threaten to obliterate California’s oil industry altogether.
In recent years, some major refineries in the state have either closed or initiated shutdowns. With these closures, gas prices have soared dramatically.
