By Kenneth Schrupp
California Republicans are launching an investigation into the Low Carbon Fuel Standard update that is expected to increase the cost of gasoline by 65 cents per gallon — impacting not just California, but the parts of Nevada and Arizona that rely on the Golden State for fuel — on July 1. That’s the middle of the peak summer driving season.
“CARB and the Governor pushed an expensive gas price hike behind closed doors, ignored public input, and misled Californians about the real cost,” said Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones, R-San Diego. “We believe their real goal is to drive gas prices so high that working families have no choice but to buy electric vehicles, whether they can afford them or not. The public deserves the truth, and we intend to shine a light on this radical agenda.”
Jones’ investigation targets communications between California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office and the California Air Resource board regarding the Low Carbon Fuel Standard and its projected economic impacts, including in conjunction with other state emissions programs such as Advanced Clean Trucks and Advanced Clean Cars that require transitions to zero-emissions vehicles.
CARB, all but two of whose voting members are appointed by the governor, approved the tightened Low Carbon Fuel Standard requirements last year. The LCFS program creates a baseline allowable carbon dioxide emissions output that falls over time, with producers of fuels that emit more carbon dioxide — a non-toxic, naturally occurring part of the planet’s atmosphere — than allowed by the standard required to buy credits from producers of “fuels” that emit less than the standard.
CARB says its updated LCFS standards will increase fuel prices by $162 billion through 2046, putting more pressure on the dwindling handful of remaining refineries that have to purchase LCFS credits to remain in operation, with $105 billion going to credits for electric vehicle charging network owners and $8 billion in credits for hydrogen.
Research has shown that particulate pollution from tires, which is 26% higher for electric vehicles than gas-powered vehicles due to their heavier mass and higher torque — is 1,850 times higher than the tailpipe pollution from modern gas-powered cars. With EVs offering only a 12% higher carbon dioxide emissions reduction over gas-powered hybrids, researchers say the proven negative health consequences of higher particulate pollution from EV tire wear outweighs the unclear benefits of the slim decrease in carbon dioxide emissions.
An investigation by The Center Square has found that EV charger operators such as Rivian and Tesla collect LCFS credits whenever their public chargers are used, and generally require users of home chargers to sign agreements allowing the companies to claim the LCFS credits and other national, international, public, and private credits from the charger’s use in perpetuity.
Because LCFS credits represent a long-term revenue source for EV manufacturers and charging network operators, they often give out chargers for free — while collecting charger subsidies from taxpayers and utility ratepayers.
However, these benefits overwhelmingly only go to wealthier families. The average EV financing cost is $783 per month, which means government and utility rebates in the thousands of dollars for chargers or vehicle financing still keep EVs out of working families’ reach.
But even if EVs were more affordable, they still might not be an option for poorer drivers, who tend to live farther from work due to the state’s high cost of housing, and may not have a place or a way to charge either at home or at work, forcing reliance on expensive, unreliable, and inconvenient public charging stations.
Notably, the state’s energy prices are so high — double the national average — and rising so quickly that they are rapidly approaching the breakeven point at which it is cheaper to fill a car with gas than it is to charge an EV with electrons. That would make California the first and only state in the nation where it’s cheaper to drive a gas car than an EV.
However, with LCFS set to likely increase gasoline costs by 65 cents per gallon, and pending shutdowns of a fifth of the state’s refining capacity by the end of next year projected to combine to drive gasoline prices to up to $8.44 per gallon, exorbitant gas prices could leave Californians with no choice but to buy EVs or take public transit, even if energy prices continue to rise amid costly zero-emissions requirements.
One can only hope that the Demsheviks push so hard they cause a political tidal wave that wipes them from Cali for decades. Cali needs another Ronald Reagan.
Well I try not to assume anything but if Buc cee’s opening in Goodyear will get its fuel from Texas maybe we’ll see some relief? Used to be more competitive. We need a gas war!
So when are we going to get our gas from Texas or Oklahoma?
Why do we have to get it from Commiefornia?
How about a checkpoint on all roads into Arizona from California and Nevada, and when a vehicle with California plates enters the driver is immediately fined $100. If the fine isn’t paid the vehicle is returned to California with an explanation that due to California Environment laws the states of Arizona and Nevada will have to pay a 65 cent/gallon environmental fee imposed on us from unelected bureaucrats.
Or, if a driver try’s to purchase gasoline with a debit card, once the owner of the card is identified as a California resident, they will be given the option to purchase fuel at an additional $1.30/gal. to offset California’s environmental fee that are being imposed on taxpayers from other states that didn’t vote for this s/$t.
Brilliant. Like a gas tariff on CA drivers coming in to the state.
I like it very much.
j. reno said we would have our own refinery over by yumma when she was in office because of the kalif stupidity at the time. Well whatever happened to it or was it just another democrap lie for the time? I know having a refinery does not necesarily mean low prices as I bought gas in montana across the road from one and prices were the same as if the place did not exist with the other locations. The hobbit needs to get off her ass ad refuse to pay for an export from the state. The increase should only affect the kalif drivers not the rest of the world.
You are correct. There was a state of the art refinery all designed and ready to go in the Wellton area (or thereabouts) and I too have no idea what happened with it; probably political though 🤬
Arrest these liberal despots! All of them!
California’s unelected bureaucrats set the standards and the state follows them without opposition. It’s one of the reasons why I moved out of the state. When I did move I thought what a relief to be out from under the state’s iron grip. But now California once again, is stealing money from my pockets. I have long thought the state’s methods were either illegal or unconstitutional. It’s going to take a lot of time and money to fight them. Meanwhile, it looks like Arizonans will be paying the price.
What is that old saying? “You can’t fix stupid” applies to everything the California liberals do. I sincerely don’t feel sorry for them anymore. They have voted this mess on themselves and seem quite content with the outcome. What a joke the state has become and they are damn proud of it. Now they also want to take the minimum wage for some airport and hotel workers up to $30 an hour before the Olympics. Let me see, how well did that work for the increase to $20 an hour for fast food workers?
Godless liberals who think they understand the climate and this perfect world and heavens that God created. They want the world to essentially stop turning, make everything that is today, tomorrow. Sorry, Commies, God’s beautiful work doesn’t recognize you.
CARB and the Governor pushed an expensive gas price hike behind closed doors, ignored public input, and misled Californians about the real cost,” said Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones, R-San Diego. “We believe their real goal is to drive gas prices so high that working families have no choice but to buy electric vehicles, whether they can afford them or not. The public deserves the truth, and we intend to shine a light on this radical agenda.”
TO buy ‘no gas from them is the goal’ interesting ; Declare war on California?