A Saturday Short

Not California Dreaming, but California Nightmare

In a free market economy, lower costs for products and thus lower prices for the consumer, depends on several factors, but most important are competitiveness and production volumes. In competitive markets, the relationship between supply and demand often determines consumer pricing.

So, under this reasonable rationale, fuel prices should be less expensive in greater Phoenix, Arizona, than the diminutive market of Rigby, Idaho, but that’s not the case. The explanation is that much of Arizona’s fuel comes from refineries in California.

California will have one less refinery now that the Wilmington-area refinery is closing – currently, 15 refineries operate in the state. The Los Angeles Times writes, “Now, in an abrupt move that reflects the tectonic industry shifts driven by climate change, the transition to electric vehicles and demands for cleaner air, Phillips 66 announced Wednesday that late next year it is closing the twin refinery complex that produces about 8% of the state’s gasoline.”

While the Trump administration has rescinded the federal requirement that, by 2035, all new vehicles manufactured and sold in the United States will be zero-emission (electric) vehicles, there is little doubt that, if this federal annulment remains intact, California will appeal the case all the way to the Supreme Court. On September 27, 2024, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into state law the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act (SB 253) and the Climate-Related Financial Risk Act (SB 261), both bills together, essentially decreeing that no vehicles with internal-combustion engines will be sold in that state.

Despite electric vehicle (EV) owners reporting more problems than the owners of internal combustion engines, California governing bodies, controlled by climate change progressives and their counterfeit agenda, pay no attention. According to a CBS report, EVs have nearly 80% more problems and are generally less reliable, yet again, climate change campaigners turn a blind eye. Further, not including overburden, mining would excavate and then process 500,000 pounds of mineral-bearing earth to produce one single EV battery. Hence, even though it doesn’t matter relative to global warming, EVs over their lifetime. may generate more carbon dioxide than a traditional internal combustion vehicle.

Currently, California imports 60% of its crude from foreign countries like China, Saudi Arabia, Ecuador, Iraq, Colombia, and Russia, many of whom are Marxist foes of the USA. There are no pipelines into California delivering crude, nor would the state’s leftist governing bodies allow such. In many cases, California has the highest taxes, most expensive housing, food prices, utilities, and fuels. It is no wonder that despite year-round temperate, coastal weather, and natural beauty, more people move out of California than any other state.

The state’s environmental and soft-on-crime policies are the sole cause of all the catastrophic fires earlier this year, which I cover in my article, “A Saturday Short - Deflection of Blame”. The progressive politicians in the “Peoples Republic of California” have no heart for any of its average citizenry – but then again, the average citizenry seems to not have enough chutzpah or courage to vote them out.

You may read more about the closing of the California refineries here.