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November 10th, 2024

California's gas prices to increase 65 cents per gallon with new fuel standards

California's Air Resources Board has approved new fuel standards, raising gas prices by 65 cents per gallon. Critics warn this will burden low-income residents amid a push for carbon neutrality by 2045.

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California's gas prices to increase 65 cents per gallon with new fuel standards

California's Air Resources Board (CARB) has voted to implement new fuel standards aimed at reducing emissions and improving air quality, which is expected to result in a 65-cent increase in gas prices per gallon across the state. Currently, California's average gas price stands at $4.68, while the national average is $3.09. The decision has sparked criticism from some lawmakers, including California Senate Republicans, who argue that the increase will disproportionately affect low-income residents already struggling with high living costs. They have submitted a petition with nearly 13,000 signatures urging CARB to delay the vote. CARB's chair, Liane Randolph, emphasized the necessity of reducing fossil fuel consumption to combat climate change, with a long-term goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045 and a 94% reduction in petroleum demand by that year. Some residents express concerns about the push towards electric vehicles, citing issues such as range anxiety and the affordability of electric options. The board's decision reflects a broader commitment to environmental goals, despite the immediate financial implications for consumers.

- CARB's new fuel standards will increase California gas prices by 65 cents per gallon.

- The average gas price in California is currently $4.68, compared to the national average of $3.09.

- Critics, including Senate Republicans, argue the price hike will harm low-income residents.

- CARB aims for carbon neutrality by 2045, with a significant reduction in petroleum demand.

- Concerns about the transition to electric vehicles include affordability and range anxiety.

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Link Icon 15 comments
By @KenSF - 5 months
What amazes me is that none of the stories I have read address the decrease in health costs these changes will bring. “An EPA analysis showed that the Clean Air Act’s benefits outweigh its costs by a factor of 30.” [0] Nor has any one talked about how this will drive adoptions of other transportation methods including public transportation. If we fully baked in the actual costs, health and environmental, I suspect gasoline would cost much, much more.

[0] https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/clean-air-act-50-year...

By @lxe - 5 months
This doesn't sit right with me. If the goal is to reduce gasoline use by 2045, why is California also absolutely gouging people with the highest electricity cost in the country?
By @angelgonzales - 5 months
Politicians and bureaucracies refuse to build up the nuclear power plants and power distribution infrastructure required to get California drivers off gasoline. I’m just concerned about all the tracking in new electric cars. Hopefully we can build up electric car infrastructure soon and “jailbreak” electric cars with nauseating telemetry. I’m also interested to see data that would correlate increasing gas prices, CoL increases and inflation with a rise in property crime. We don’t need to make gasoline cleaner, we need to make cheaper electric cars and more numerous charging stations.
By @inamberclad - 5 months
Without reasonable alternative such as frequent and reliable public transit or major support for electric vehicle adoption, this will hurt most Californians much more than it helps.

While I don't claim to be an expert on policy, perhaps a $0.65/gal tax which funds public transit would be a better use of this increase in cost.

By @wdb - 5 months
Still will be cheap compared to gas prices in other countries. Plenty of places where it is around $2/litre
By @ocschwar - 5 months
I literally cannot live in Los Angeles because of the constant smog. Yes, it's much better than it was, but Los Angeles is still in a bowl, and it's bad enough that I cannot live there.
By @dsq - 5 months
My peoblem with taxes such as fuel tax is that they create a perverse incentive for the state to perpetuate the use of gasoline.

The state gets hooked on the tax money.

By @aliasxneo - 5 months
What’s stopping a program that trades gas cars for electric? Or do they already exist and I don’t know about it?
By @dangus - 5 months
Something to note here is that this isn’t a gas tax and this cost increase estimate is coming out of thin air.
By @jwkpiano1 - 5 months
As far as I can tell, that number is completely speculative, which makes this essentially misinformation in my view. Here’s a more balanced look at the decision: https://calmatters.org/environment/climate-change/2024/11/ca....
By @johnea - 5 months
Even more glad I just bought that used Nissan Leaf!!!
By @blackeyeblitzar - 5 months
When I look at the rhetoric supporting increases to gas prices in California or Washington through creative means like fuel standards or selectively applied carbon taxes, I can’t help but think about how ideologically driven all of it is. The language used by proponents is often so hostile and absolutist, like discussion is possible, like they know better. It reeks of elitism, because spending on gas is not an option for most people. It’s simply how many people get around every single day. Sure if you are a young, single, urban worker you may get by on public transit. But others have different needs that are better served by cars - if you have a family or hobbies that take you away from transit lines or simply short on time, a car is better in most parts of the country. Imposing a tax on how people live is not just a regressive tax but it will also cause those people to despise you.
By @gosub100 - 5 months
I'm sure it includes a minimum wage increase commensurate with the average miles driven by those who earn it, riiiight?