Bipartisan state lawmakers in California are pressing the state’s energy authorities to urgently address the persistent gas crisis impacting residents.

On Wednesday, legislators sent a letter to the California Energy Commission, criticizing the agency for its failure to provide essential information about the fuel situation and a clear plan to address it.

The letter pointed out that three critical reports from the commission and the California Air Resources Board, expected between 2024 and this year, remain incomplete.

“We are calling for an emergency strategy to tackle this fuel crisis,” declared Assemblymember David Alvarez, a Democrat, during a press conference on Thursday. “Our request—and at this point, it’s more of a demand—underscores several overdue reports, some pending for over a year, that need to be submitted to the legislature.”

California’s gas prices, the highest in the nation, have surged following disruptions in the global oil supply due to the conflict involving Iran. As of Thursday, the average price of gas in California was $5.85 per gallon, according to data from the American Automobile Association.

These elevated prices are further impacted by the state’s above-average taxes and environmentally-focused policies that have resulted in the closure of some oil refineries.

Lawmakers detailed the stark situation the state is in. They are concerned that California may see shrinking inventories, reduced flexibility in resupplying fuels, and more global disruptions. The state heavily relies on gas imports, they noted, just like countries such as the Philippines, where unprecedented action has been taken.

All that could make the affordability crisis for Californians even worse.

“Unfortunately, California’s government so far has provided no plan to deal with this emergency. In this uncertain environment, it is concerning that the Legislature lacks critical information that state agencies
were statutorily required to provide but has not yet been produced,” the lawmakers wrote.

The letter asks the energy commission for any update on the reports and whether there is an emergency plan. The letter inquires whether “clean gas” requirements would be loosened to help ease shortages, and also whether there will be permitting reforms for refineries.

“California may not be prepared for a short-term fuel crisis,” state Sen. Suzette Martinez Valladares (R) said Thursday. “This isn’t about politics. This is about preparedness.”

The California Post reached out to the energy commission and the air resources board for comment.

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