SACRAMENTO, Calif. — After today’s Senate Environmental Quality Committee hearing on state refinery closures, committee Vice Chair, Sen. Valladares renewed her call for a special legislative session to confront California’s rising gas prices and the policy decisions driving them.
“California’s energy policies are pushing fuel supply out while working families still need to drive to work and school every day,” said Sen. Valladares. “Restrict supply without reducing demand, and prices rise. That’s basic economics, and it’s why we have the highest gas prices in the nation.”
Earlier this month, Sen. Valladares joined colleagues in urging the Governor to call an emergency session focused on fuel supply and increasing price spikes. To date, the Governor has not formally responded.
As oil refineries in California continue to close and capacity declines, the state has become increasingly dependent on foreign imports. According to Bloomberg, California imported more gasoline in November than ever before, including fuel transported thousands of miles on polluting foreign tankers.
“This is not an abstract policy debate,” Sen. Valladares said. “Fuel is a foundational input cost for our entire economy and impacts essential goods and services and family budgets. When gas prices spike, everything else follows.”
Sen. Valladares warned that without immediate action to address declining supply and rising prices, Californians could face even more severe price increases including $8 per gallon gas.
“We all want clean air and a cleaner environment,” she added. “But we are lacking a responsible transition plan and working families continue to bear the cost of policies that lack a clear, realistic transition strategy. We need leadership, transparency, and immediate action.”
Sen. Valladares reaffirmed her commitment to pursuing solutions that protect consumers and the economy, strengthen energy reliability, and prevent further economic strain on California households.