A bi-partisan coalition of concerned legislators has issued a public letter to Governor Newsom expressing serious concern over planned refinery closures in Los Angeles and the Bay Area.
The letter was signed by Senator Suzette Martinez Valladares (R-Santa Clarita), Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil (R-Jackson), Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield), Senator Kelly Seyarto (R-Murrieta), Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez (R-Indio), Assemblyman Josh Hoover (R-Folsom), Assemblywoman Alexandra Macedo (R-Tulare) and Assemblywoman Kate Sanchez (R-Temecula).
“We are looking at potential economic fallout for working families—particularly Hispanic communities—and we are calling for urgent action to prevent further destabilization of California’s energy and labor landscape,” said Senator Suzette Martinez Valladares.
The letter warns that if refinery closures continue unchecked, gas prices could surpass $8 per gallon by 2026, placing an unbearable burden on low- and middle-income families. Hispanic households—many of whom already live paycheck to paycheck—would be disproportionately affected.
“Gasoline is not a luxury—it’s a necessity,” the letter states. For millions of working-class Californians, especially in construction, agriculture, and service industries, affordable fuel is essential to earning a living.
In addition to rising costs, this issue is about jobs. The energy industry has provided tens of thousands of good-paying, upwardly mobile jobs to Hispanic workers – from skilled trades and operations to logistics and contracting. Refinery closures threaten to gut these jobs and leave working people behind.
The authors are urging the state to investigate whether policy decisions, regulatory directives, or permitting restrictions have contributed to these shutdowns. They call on the administration to adjust course where necessary to ensure the continued viability of California’s refining infrastructure.
The letter outlines a path forward focused on balance and pragmatism, including:
- Maintaining existing refining capacity while the state builds new clean energy infrastructure.
- Streamlining regulatory and permitting processes to offer businesses clarity and stability.
- Protecting good-paying jobs and investing in workforce development.
- Incentivizing innovation in renewable fuels and lower-carbon technologies rather than punishing production.
“California should lead the nation in both clean energy innovation and affordability,” the letter concludes. “That won’t happen if working families are priced out of the state and energy producers are pushed out by uncertainty.”
The signatories call for collaboration on a common-sense energy strategy that protects jobs, promotes equity, and ensures energy freedom for all Californians.