California Faces Fuel Disaster As Refineries And Gas Stations Shut Down

[rangerrebew]

California Faces Fuel Disaster As Refineries And Gas Stations Shut Down
 
by Tyler Durden
Sunday, Dec 21, 2025 - 06:05 PM

The Democrat crusade to divert blame for the stagflation crisis triggered during the Biden Administration led them down a path of economic lies.  The central theme of their narrative was that corporations were "price gouging" consumers and inflation was actually a product of "corporate greed."  In reality, helicopter money and dollar devaluation during the pandemic triggered a massive consumer demand rush as well as shortages in a variety of goods and raw materials.

The profit margins in many of these industries were paper thin as their manufacturing and labor costs skyrocketed, yet Democrats tried to scapegoat them anyway.  The word "accountability" is not in the leftist vocabulary.

We are only now starting to witness the aftermath of the legislation and policies put in place by blue states as a means to control prices.  California under Governor Gavin Newsom may have staged its own economic demise (the final nail in the coffin) after laws were passed requiring even greater state interference into oil refineries and gas stations.

https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/california-faces-fuel-disaster-refineries-and-gas-stations-shut-down

[PeteS in CA]

I've lived in my current home since 1990. Zero gas stations in my area have shut down in that time.

[Hoodat]

How many of those stations charge less than $3/gal?

[PeteS in CA]

How many of those stations charge less than $3/gal?

 

Why that is a magical number, feel free to explain.

A couple of months ago the price of gas where I live was DOWN to what it was before LIEden became President and caused prices to rise. More recently, the price of gas has been further reduced by ~30 cents per gallon.

But as I posted above, contrary to the OP article title's claim, I have not, in >35 years, seen even one gas station shut down in the area where I live.

[DefiantMassRINO]

Some in Cali are more equal than others ... especially in Sacremento.

https://gasprices.aaa.com/?state=CA

[Free Vulcan]

That's a shame.

[PeteS in CA]

Some in Cali are more equal than others ... especially in Sacremento.

https://gasprices.aaa.com/?state=CA

By that "reasoning" mostly rural Yolo, Colusa, Placer, Lake, Modoc, Calaveras, Tuolumne, Merced, Fresno, and Riverside Counties are similarly "more equal than others"? And mostly rural Sutter, Yuba, Butte, Glenn, Tehama, Shasta, Amador, San Joaquin, and Stanislaus Counties are even more special than Sacramento County?

Outside of CT-Land, gas prices in CA counties are more related to factors such as distance to refineries (e.g. Sacramento County is relatively close to refineries in the Richmond and Martinez areas, with I80 and I680 providing almost entire freeway access), land /lease prices (e.g. LA County), and transportation access (e.g Humboldt and Trinity Counties).

[Kamaji]

I've lived in my current home since 1990. Zero gas stations in my area have shut down in that time.

And this is why anecdote is often not reliable. 

There may have been no gas stations closing in your neck of the woods, but I understand that, on balance, California as a whole has experienced a net loss of traditional ICE-oriented gas stations, although it has had a net increase in so-called alternative fuels stations.

[PeteS in CA]

It's funny how EVERY time I cite personal experiences and observations as inconsistent with things people want to be true, I'm an isolated case, anecdotal, blah-blah-blah.

BTW, according to a post I'm sure some hereabouts loved, I should have died 19 months ago because The Vaccine.

How's the water temp in Lake Nasser?

[Kamaji]

It's funny how EVERY time I cite personal experiences and observations as inconsistent with things people want to be true, I'm an isolated case, anecdotal, blah-blah-blah.

BTW, according to a post I'm sure some hereabouts loved, I should have died 19 months ago because The Vaccine.

How's the water temp in Lake Nasser?

Funny or not, in this case the data statewide doesn’t appear to follow your anecdotal evidence.  Both can be true - it can be the case that no gas stations in your area have closed since you can recall, and it can also be the case that statewide there has been a net loss of gas stations. 

[Cyber Liberty]

Why that is a magical number, feel free to explain.

A couple of months ago the price of gas where I live was DOWN to what it was before LIEden became President and caused prices to rise. More recently, the price of gas has been further reduced by ~30 cents per gallon.

But as I posted above, contrary to the OP article title's claim, I have not, in >35 years, seen even one gas station shut down in the area where I live.

What is the price per gallon right now?  Price compared to 4 years ago means nothing to those of us in flyover country.

[Kamaji]

What is the price per gallon right now?  Price compared to 4 years ago means nothing to those of us in flyover country.

He's correct that talking about the price is shifting the goal-posts, since the original point was that gas stations in CA were closing.

[Cyber Liberty]

He's correct that talking about the price is shifting the goal-posts, since the original point was that gas stations in CA were closing.

As is common, threads drift from the original topic.  I withdraw my inquiry.

[PeteS in CA]

What is the price per gallon right now?  Price compared to 4 years ago means nothing to those of us in flyover country.

My comment was responsive to Hoodat. I assume - and have seen comments to this effect in other contexts - that gas prices have also fallen in other states, which I'm sure residents of those states duly appreciate.

[Cyber Liberty]

My comment was responsive to Hoodat. I assume - and have seen comments to this effect in other contexts - that gas prices have also fallen in other states, which I'm sure residents of those states duly appreciate.

We do, very much!  My question earlier was off-topic....

I wish it were true in CA.  Mrs. Liberty has family there and we can't afford to go visit them because gas is so expensive there, and we live far enough away that we have to fill up a couple of times!

[Hoodat]

Why that is a magical number, feel free to explain.

A couple of months ago the price of gas where I live was DOWN to what it was before LIEden became President and caused prices to rise. More recently, the price of gas has been further reduced by ~30 cents per gallon.

But as I posted above, contrary to the OP article title's claim, I have not, in >35 years, seen even one gas station shut down in the area where I live.

One can't move goalposts when stepping on the field for the first time.  I didn't make any claim about gas stations shutting down (nor do I care).  As long as people demand gasoline with their dollars, there will be gas stations.  But I can only wonder what consumers pay for gasoline in California as I fill my tank here in Alabama for less than $2.50/gal.

[libertybele]

One can't move goalposts when stepping on the field for the first time.  I didn't make any claim about gas stations shutting down (nor do I care).  As long as people demand gasoline with their dollars, there will be gas stations.  But I can only wonder what consumers pay for gasoline in California as I fill my tank here in Alabama for less than $2.50/gal.

Thank goodness for all their EV's.   

[DefiantMassRINO]

California Faces Fuel Disaster - hyperbole
As Refineries ... Shut Down - announced, future
And Gas Stations Shut Down - wha?

In theory, in the near future, if the announced refinery closures happen, there could be a decrease in aggregate, available refinery production capacity.

Prices could vary based upon the imbalance between supply and demand.

Demand could drop if people leave Cali and there is less economic activity.

Everything is theoretical and rhetorical until it happens.

Who knows?  Governor Greaseball might declare an "emergency" and allow non-Cali-compliant gasoline blends to be sold in Cali.

Cali dug themselves a potential energy supply hole with their zealous anti-energy legislation.

[Sighlass]

One can't move goalposts when stepping on the field for the first time.  I didn't make any claim about gas stations shutting down (nor do I care).  As long as people demand gasoline with their dollars, there will be gas stations.  But I can only wonder what consumers pay for gasoline in California as I fill my tank here in Alabama for less than $2.50/gal.

Can confirm the less that 2.50/gal prices... and that is with our state Rino representative (Speaker of House, Ledbetter) from my area pushing gas taxes hikes last election (pissed me off)... They would not place funds in election campaigns of new people running for office unless they stated in writing they would support a gas tax. I hate Rinos (and our governor Kay is one of them).

[GtHawk]

What is the price per gallon right now?  Price compared to 4 years ago means nothing to those of us in flyover country.

you can never compare California to flyover country, California has morons who don’t drive, only ride subsidized transportation, and yet feel empowered to vote for increased fuel taxes for those that do drive, like the last one to fix infrastructure that the existing gas tax was to pay for…..if the politicians didn’t consistently steal it to pay for anything but the roads.  And now that refineries are being shut down because oil companies finally had enough of bowing to the insane democrats and turning over profits to bankroll corrupt social programs, our fuel prices will be even higher.

[Fishrrman]

Hawk soars over us with:
"And now that refineries are being shut down because oil companies finally had enough of bowing to the insane democrats and turning over profits to bankroll corrupt social programs, our fuel prices will be even higher."

Sounds like the executives at Valero had been reading Atlas Shrugged and decided to do an "Ellis Wyatt":
(paraphrasing):
"You can have it back !!"

[Smokin Joe]

What is the price per gallon right now?  Price compared to 4 years ago means nothing to those of us in flyover country.

To answer the question no one seems to want to answer: according to Gasbuddy.com https://fuelinsights.gasbuddy.com/, the average price for regular gas in California is $4.25/gallon.

By contrast, North Dakota is $2.496 per gallon for regular gasoline.

Oklahoma comes in cheapest at $2.231 per gallon.

[jafo2010]

I say shut the whole state down.  California will rot with their moronic policies.  I know, let's advance the mandatory EV  requirement for all vehicles to right now!  There is an idea for the greaser they have as governor.  Yeah, EV mandatory right now.  Combustion engines verboten.

[Smokin Joe]

I say shut the whole state down.  California will rot with their moronic policies.  I know, let's advance the mandatory EV  requirement for all vehicles to right now!  There is an idea for the greaser they have as governor.  Yeah, EV mandatory right now.  Combustion engines verboten.

Nah. Just the counties/precincts that voted blue...https://www.politico.com/2022-election/results/california/statewide-offices/

[Kamaji]

WADR, other than the folks who actually live in CA - you have my sympathies, even coming from NY - why are yall getting so worked up about what CA has done to itself?  The majority voted for this shit, so let them enjoy the consequences of their vote.  Elections have consequences.  In the meantime, the rest of us should be enjoying lower gas prices if that’s what we’ve got.

What is anathema is allowing CA to push its insanity onto the rest of the country.  But what they do within their own borders to themselves is a matter of indifference, except as an object lesson in what not to do.

[mountaineer]

We just need more renewables and EVs, I betcha!

Oh, wait ...

Susan Shelley
@Susan_Shelley
So absurd that California claims to "lead" other states in renewable energy and then buys their non-renewable energy to keep the lights on. At 11:15 p.m., 34.5% of the state's electricity demand is met by imported power. (California electricity rates have doubled in ten years.)
2:28 AM · Dec 28, 2025