California’s energy disaster is no model for the nation

Published October 3, 2024 2:00pm ET



Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) has declared war on California’s oil and gas industry, and his state’s residents are paying the price. Voters across the country should pay close attention to what is happening on the West Coast before casting a vote for his fellow California Democrat, Vice President Kamala Harris.

California is in a mess when it comes to energy. Newsom’s latest proposal would let the unelected California Energy Commission set minimum fuel storage requirements for oil refineries in case of outages or unplanned maintenance. The governor claims that unplanned maintenance at refineries leads to price spikes that could be prevented if refineries were forced to keep reserves for use in such a contingency.

Trusted reporting.Unlimited access.

Subscribe for full access to Washington Examiner coverage, expert political analysis, and subscriber-only journalism.

Get Unlimited Access

Already a member? Log in

Cancel anytime.