California Is Barreling Toward $8–$10 Gas Unless Sacramento Acts

SACRAMENTO, CA – After this past week’s hearing that looked at California’s oil refineries and gas prices, one thing is crystal clear: if Sacramento continues to delay, Californians should brace for gas prices between $8 and $10 per gallon. We’ve been warning lawmakers for years that the regulatory chokehold on domestic energy production was a blueprint for failure. Unfortunately, they didn’t listen, and now we’re all paying the price. 

“There have been thousands of permits for new wells that have sat on the state’s desk for years, waiting for approval, and thousands more operators want to submit which meet every state environmental and safety requirement,” said Rock Zierman, CEO of the California Independent Petroleum Association. “Meanwhile, two more refineries are making plans to shut down, and California is spending $25 billion a year to buy foreign oil when we could be producing it right here at home.” 

Each barrel of imported oil is $5 to $7 more expensive than in-state production. That cost is passed directly onto the consumer in higher gasoline prices. This results in billions of dollars leaving our state, driving up prices at the pump, and enriching foreign governments that don’t share our values or adhere to our environmental standards. 

“We don’t need to import more oil from the Middle East or the Amazon Rainforest,” Zierman added. “We have the resources, the workers, and the know-how to do it safely, cleanly, and under the strictest environmental laws in the world—right here in California. What we don’t have is the political will in Sacramento to approve permits and let us get to work.” 

California Is at a Breaking Point 

With 78% of California’s oil now imported, consumers are footing the bill in the form of skyrocketing gas prices. Foreign oil arrives via diesel-powered tankers that can take up to 60 days to reach California.  

“Every barrel we import instead of producing here is a direct hit to California jobs, air quality, and affordability,” Zierman said. “If we unlocked those stalled permits, we could inject billions of dollars back into our economy, stabilize energy prices, and reduce our dependency on foreign regimes with dismal environmental and human rights records.” 

Let California Produce Again 

“This isn’t complicated,” said Zierman. “California oil is the only climate-compliant oil. Our producers follow the world’s strictest environmental, labor, and safety regulations. Meanwhile, oil imported from countries like Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Ecuador is completely exempt from those standards, and it’s polluting our ports and costing Californians more.” 

The recent state hearing should act as a wake-up call, not a reason to push the problem to the next news cycle. Californians deserve affordable, reliable, and locally produced energy. 

To schedule an interview with Rock Zierman, contact Hector Barajas at Hector@Amplify360inc.com or (323) 314-3342. 

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