California Governor Newsom’s UK Clean Energy Agreement Faces Backlash Over Feasibility Concerns

Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent clean energy agreement is facing sharp criticism, with detractors labeling it another example of policy missteps that have already driven significant business out of California.

This agreement, a memorandum of understanding signed by Governor Newsom and U.K. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, aims to foster collaboration in tackling climate change. It includes a commitment to invest nearly a billion dollars in California projects centered on clean technology, backed by the U.K.’s leading energy firm, Octopus.

Steve Hilton, a Republican gubernatorial candidate, expressed his disapproval in a social media video, sarcastically remarking, “What a genius idea it is for the UK, a country with some of the highest electricity prices globally, to partner with California, which has the highest electricity costs in America, second only to Hawaii. The plan to expand offshore wind energy, which threatens our beautiful Californian coastlines, is sheer insanity.”

Hilton further criticized Newsom, a Democratic presidential hopeful, for what he perceives as hypocrisy in advocating for clean energy while contributing to carbon emissions.

“We’re tired of Newsom jet-setting around the globe, lecturing on climate change while emitting carbon emissions himself,” Hilton stated to The California Post. “His extreme climate policies have saddled us with the highest gas prices in the nation and electric bills that only Hawaii surpasses.”

When approached for a response, Izzy Gardon, Newsom’s director of communications, offered a succinct reply: “Who is Steve Hilton?”

Dr. Wayne Winegarden, a senior research fellow at the Pacific Research Institute, applauded the goal of reaching net-zero admissions, but underscored that it has to come without raising prices — a formula, California seems to have yet to figure out. 

“Over the last eight years it has definitely gotten worse,” Winegarden said, pointing to the weight of regulations driving refineries out the state, including low carbon fuel standards and inventory requirements. 

Valero’s refinery in Benicia is phasing out operations and will close in early 2026, while Phillips 66 shuttered its fuel production in 2025. The two closures leave 8 operating oil refineries that produce transportation fuel in a state the consumes the most behind Texas, according to the California Air Resources Board. 

In light of Valero’s announcement to close its doors in Northern California, Newsom highlighted several laws he signed to combat rising fuel prices, including efforts to boost oil production in Kern County, as well as granting the California Energy Commission (CEC) regulatory and data transparency tools to ensure a stable, affordable fuel supply during the state’s transition away from petroleum-based transportation. 

“While others point fingers to spread fear and divide us, California is doing the actual work—collaborating with industry, using data and transparency to protect consumers, and building the all-of-the-above energy future America needs,” Newsom said in a statement back in early January.

But, a new report from Bloomberg News shows California is increasingly shipping more foreign oil from the Bahamas as gas prices rise.

More than 40% of the gasoline California imported in November was routed through the Caribbean hub, a record high which comes as drivers in the state are paying an average of $4.58 per gallon, the most in the country, according to the outlet.

While Winegarden sees the value in clean energy, he noted the “lack of stability” as a major concern.

“When the conditions are right we have been getting significant power from alternative energy, but when the conditions are wrong, we have lack of stability,” Winegarden told the Post. “What we keep seeing is prices keep going up relative to the rest of the country.” 

Winegarden added that California has prioritized becoming net-zero over “key aspects of affordability and reliability,” when the state should focus more on the technology that exists today — like utilizing natural gas in the interim to lower emissions. 

“If we could use that, even over 10, 20, 30 years, but we keep getting emissions down, that’s an important step,” Winegarden said. “We rely on more of what we want to be true or even what we think could possibly be true in a few years rather than what’s true today.” 

A sentiment echoed by Tom Manzo, founder of the California Business & Industrial Alliance, or CABIA, who blamed Newsom’s “overregulation and anti-business business climate” for driving up energy costs and pushing out businesses. 

“The clean energy dream — you know, we have the highest prices in the nation because they chased out the refiners,” Manzo said. “Look at the solar electric, the biggest farm, you know, $2.2 billion in the Mohave Desert and they’re closing that because it was producing only 75% of its capacity.”

Manzo also called out Newsom for spending time abroad, rather than in the state he represents.

“You’re not helping the state of California by going and making some made up deal with with somebody from from the United Kingdom,” he said.