Trump's energy czar scorches California over oil crisis
New York Post • • business
Key Points:
- President Donald Trump’s energy czar criticized California for relying heavily on imported oil amid a severe state oil crisis and rising gas prices, calling it a national security threat during military conflicts.
- The last Middle Eastern oil tanker docked in Long Beach recently, potentially ending shipments from the Strait of Hormuz to California and putting pressure on the state’s fuel supply chain.
- California’s policies have reduced in-state oil production by 75% since the 1980s, causing the state to import over 60% of its crude oil, while recent refinery closures have further limited refining capacity by approximately 17–18%.
- The Department of Energy highlighted the restart of the Santa Ynez pipeline as a 15% boost in California’s in-state oil production, potentially replacing 1.5 million barrels of foreign crude monthly.
- California faces the highest gas tax in the US at 61.2 cents per gallon, contributing to average gas prices exceeding $6 per gallon, about $2 more than the national average.
