California Importing Foreign Fuel After Running Refineries Out Of Town

[rangerrebew]

California Importing Foreign Fuel After Running Refineries Out Of Town
9 hours ago Guest Blogger
From THE DAILY CALLER

Daily Caller News Foundation
Audrey Streb
DCNF Energy Reporter

California imported a record amount of gasoline in November after major refinery closures tied to years of Golden State leaders imposing strict regulations, Bloomberg News reported Sunday.

Over 40% of imported gasoline to California hailed from the Bahamas, with Asian nations like Japan and India contributing additional volume, Bloomberg News noted, citing data from Vortexa. California politicians have imposed harsh regulations on the oil and gas industry for years, enacting America’s highest tax on gasoline and implementing a cap-and-trade program for emissions that some policy experts have linked to rising energy costs in the state.

The state has the most expensive gas prices in the nation, at $4.58 a gallon — standing in contrast with the national average of $2.92 a gallon — according to the most recent AAA data. Bloomberg News reported that added shipping expenses are further burdening California’s already costly gas market.

Two major refineries are also closing shop in California, with Phillips 66 winding down its California refinery, while Valero is set to shutter its Benicia facility and record a $1 billion write-down.

https://wattsupwiththat.com/2026/02/20/california-importing-foreign-fuel-after-running-refineries-out-of-town/

[IsailedawayfromFR]

And in doing so, exposes the coastline to more spillage and ballast dumping from oil tankers, a far more egregious environmental tragedy than any pipeline spill on land would produce.

As well as substituting foreign jobs to replace California jobs.

Welcome to the most anti-American and free economy state in the country.

[Free Vulcan]

In California's case, the fuel labeled as coming "from the Bahamas" is largely refined gasoline that originates from U.S. Gulf Coast refineries (mainly Texas and Louisiana). It's shipped to the Bahamas on foreign-flagged tankers to bypass the Jones Act—a 1920 U.S. law requiring domestic shipments (between U.S. ports) to use expensive U.S.-built, -owned, and -crewed vessels. By routing through the Bahamas, shippers can use cheaper foreign vessels for the final leg to California's West Coast ports (via the Panama Canal), avoiding those high costs.

So, short answer: It's not the Bahamas' own oil; the Bahamas is just a middle stop for mostly U.S.-origin refined fuel to get around shipping regulations and supply gaps. This detour contributes to higher costs (and thus higher gas prices) for Californians.

Asked Grok, Cali is side-stepping and sliding the buck to put the onus on someone else, mainly Texas and Louisiana while virtue signaling and playing self-righteous.