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California’s Self-Inflicted Gas Crisis, and Why You Pay So Much at the Pump

California’s Self-Inflicted Gas Crisis, and Why You Pay So Much at the Pump
A man pumps gas into his truck at an Arco gas station in Mill Valley, Calif., on Aug. 28, 2025. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Mike Fredenburg
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Commentary
If you have visited the gas pump and been watching the news, you know California is in the middle of an energy crisis. This crisis didn’t happen overnight—it’s the direct result of decades of environmental regulations that have strangled domestic oil production and refining. Since the 1980s, the state has lost over 30 refineries, with recent closures reducing operable facilities from 40 in 1982  to just six or seven left operating by mid-February 2026.
Mike Fredenburg
Mike Fredenburg
Author
Mike Fredenburg writes on military technology and defense matters with an emphasis on defense reform. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and master’s degree in production operations management.