As Prices Climb, California Imports More Gasoline

California is in a challenging midtransition to an economy based on clean energy, the California Energy Commission has said. Rising electric vehicle use and more efficient gasoline-powered cars led to a drop in demand for refined fuel, with last year seeing the least amount of gasoline pumped in more than 20 years except when the pandemic reduced driving in 2020.

The California Air Resources Board has estimated that the state needs $550 million for equity incentives each year through 2030. Newsom’s 2026-27 budget proposes $200 million in rebates for electric vehicles purchased.

That amount “is certainly welcome,” said Michael Berube, the CEO of clean car advocate Calstart, “but there needs to be more than that overall.”

Coverage also seen in the Times of San Diego, Santa Barbara News Press, Daily Kos,  LA Progressive and Inkl