Amid growing concerns over national security, California Republicans are urging Donald Trump to address the worsening oil crisis in the state.
State senators are appealing for presidential intervention, worried that the escalating situation could hinder California’s substantial military presence due to its heavy fuel dependency.
In recent days, gasoline prices have surged throughout the state, reaching an average of $5.159 on Sunday, significantly higher than the $3.450 national average, with some areas seeing prices as high as $8.21 per gallon.
Governor Gavin Newsom has attributed the price hike to tensions in Iran, yet analysts also highlight the impact of long-standing, burdensome state taxes that have driven up costs over time.
In a statement to the California Post, State Senator Suzette Valladares said, “California is facing a dire crisis with our gas and oil prices. If the President considers our fuel problem a national emergency, he has the authority to intervene.”
Valladares suggests that the potential national crisis she envisions could stem from the situation in Iran and its implications for national security.
That national crisis she predicts could be the conflict in Iran and keeping America safe.
She continued: “California produces jet fuel for commercial and military use, they could use some sort of war order to at least keep up California production because of what’s happening in the Middle East.”
California refineries supply gasoline and jet fuel to military installations throughout the state, most of which is currently produced by in-state refineries, according to State Senator Tony Strickland.
That includes 11 Air Force bases, along with dozens of Navy, Marine Corps, and Army facilities. They use about 370 million gallons of fuel annually.
Trump could use the Defense Production Act of 1950 to override California laws and regulations that are blocking offshore oil operations in the state.
A 22-page opinion written by the Department of Justice this week claims the networks of offshore rigs and pipelines are a “critical energy resource on the West Coast.”
It says a presidential order “would preempt the California laws currently impeding [Sable Offshore Corp] from resuming production and operating the associated pipeline infrastructure.”
The act gives Trump the power to influence domestic industry that is seen as vital to national defense or emergencies.
Gas prices across California have spiked with an average price of $5.159 per gallon, according to AAA, dramatically above the national average. Valladares points to Newsom.
Valladares said: “He signed regulation after regulation that got us here. Policy and unrealistic climate goals have put us in this position.
“This is not painless for the everyday working Californian. This impacts real people. He has the power to change this.”
Although she called on the Governor to convene an emergency session on refinery closings Valladares says Newsom will do nothing.
She said: “He’s going to leave this catastrophe to the next Governor because he’s running for President. It’ll be too late by then, when a refinery closes they don’t come back.”
The comments come after two refineries said they will be leaving California and on the heels of a doomsday letter from a Chevron executive, Andy Walz.
He said a looming vote by the California Air Resources Board could pile billions in new costs onto in-state fuel producers — potentially driving refineries out of California for good.
“If they add this burden … it’s not whether refineries will close, it’s when,” Walz told KCRA in a blunt interview Thursday.
He added: “That makes no sense when you look at global tensions right now,” he warned, pointing to instability in the Middle East and the threat of wider conflict involving Iran.
Valladares said the vote could “absolutely decimate the California oil industry” and prices for refining “will essentially go up $1 dollar to $1.26” making it impossible to break even or make a profit.
