Macedo: When CA Oil Refineries Shut Down, Consumers Suffer

Assemblymember Alexandra Macedo, who represents California’s 33rd Assembly District covering Tulare, Kings, and Fresno counties, warns that refinery shutdowns and a decline in in-state oil production are pushing California toward an energy and economic crisis.

Macedo argues in her Fresno Bee op-ed that policies signed by Governor Gavin Newsom are accelerating refinery closures, with two of the state’s nine remaining refineries set to close, removing nearly 20% of gasoline production capacity. This, she notes, will drive fuel prices higher at a time when California families are already struggling with housing, grocery, and utility costs.

California now imports over 75% of its oil, much of it from unstable or environmentally weaker countries, leaving the state vulnerable to global conflicts and supply disruptions.

Macedo highlights the broader economic stakes: the oil and gas industry supports over 530,000 jobs, contributes $166 billion annually to California’s economy (5% of GDP), and generates $48 billion in state and local tax revenue that funds schools, public safety, and infrastructure.

Shutting down this economic engine, she argues, jeopardizes both household budgets and essential public services.

Citing polling that shows 86% of Californians view high gas prices as a major problem, Macedo calls for policies that increase domestic production, streamline permitting for wells in existing oil fields, and ease regulatory pressures that threaten refinery operations.

She stresses this does not mean abandoning environmental protections, since California already has some of the strongest standards in the world. Instead, producing more oil locally reduces reliance on imports, protects jobs, and enhances energy security.

Her conclusion is blunt: if California allows more energy infrastructure to close, prices will rise, jobs will vanish, and dependence on foreign oil will deepen. The state must keep refineries open, maintain pipelines, and boost in-state production to protect consumers and communities.