While drivers in the Phoenix metro area spent hundreds of millions of extra dollars on inflated gas prices this spring, their rural Arizona neighbors and drivers in Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado and even California did not.
On Monday, Arizona lawmakers will investigate the situation and the failure of Governor Katie Hobbs to avoid it.
Arizona’s gas prices are higher than the national average due to the unique blend of gasoline required by state law since 1997 called “Cleaner Burning Gasoline” (CBG).
CBG is only sold in Arizona and is produced outside of the state. With a limited number of producers, localized price spikes routinely happen during supply shortages. In the past, Arizona Governors would seek waivers from federal regulators to get more fuel into the state during a CBG shortage to help keep costs lower for those filling up their tanks and to avoid a catastrophe.
Governor Katie Hobbs chose not to seek a waiver, causing prices to soar.
Critics say Hobbs’ failure to seek the waiver hit drivers “already hurting in the midst of skyrocketing inflation.”
The Joint Legislative Ad Hoc Study Committee on Air Quality and Energy is co-chaired by Majority Whip Senator Sine Kerr and Representative Gail Griffin.
“We want to get to the bottom of why Arizona is the only state in the country using this rare fuel blend, and what alternatives we can switch to that will still provide environmental benefits while saving drivers money,” said Kerr in a press release. “We also hope to learn why Governor Hobbs opted not to provide immediate relief to motorists when she had the opportunity to do so. Her actions were far from the precedent set by Governors before her, and the end result has had reckless impacts on the wallets of our citizens. In gathering this information, we plan to craft policy that will ensure Arizona drivers and our economy are prioritized, and not unattainable environmental goals.”
The Joint Legislative Ad Hoc Study Committee on Air Quality and Energy public hearing will take place Monday, October 16 at 3:00 p.m. in Senate Hearing Room 1.