California Faces Challenges Over Ineffective Environmental Decisions

It feels like a scene straight from “Mad Max”: California receives its final, coveted barrel of Middle Eastern oil.

The shipment, carried by the Hong Kong-flagged vessel “New Corolla,” sits anchored at the Port of Long Beach. This cargo, consisting of 2 million barrels, is the last to traverse the Strait of Hormuz since the conflict erupted.

California’s reliance on oil imports from regions like the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America stems from the state’s decision to gradually cease local production.

Moreover, transporting oil from other U.S. states proves challenging, often requiring convoluted routes.

As a result, significant price surges may be on the horizon. The real challenge is about to unfold.

No doubt Democrats will blame Trump. But this was a choice — a choice made by governors Gavin Newsom, Jerry Brown, and even Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

A choice to make California “green” — and therefore to make our state dependent on foreign oil, since renewables can’t yet make up the gap.

A choice that put climate change virtue-signaling above economic reality.

Newsom blames Trump for the high gas prices in California. 

Yet the reality is that California’s gas prices were rising even before the Iran War — thanks to Newsom’s war on fossil fuels, including regulations that are shutting down refineries.

As the California Post reported last week, Californians can drive to Nevada for gas that is almost $3 per gallon cheaper — and they have an Iran War there, too.

California also mandates a unique fuel blend that can’t be replaced easily by fuel from elsewhere.

Once, Newsom told Californians to “sober up” about the limits of green energy. He forgot to take his own advice.

Newsom clearly wants to run for president after leaving office in California. He will have to explain why he didn’t protect energy security in his own state.

Can someone who doesn’t guard his state’s energy supply be trusted as commander-in-chief?

That’s a question for voters to answer in 2028. But for now, drivers looking at pump prices will ask: How do we get out of this?

Ballots arrive in mailboxes this week. Bad choices should have consequences.

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