Latest News

California aims to tackle pump spikes by requiring gas reserves

California Governor Gavin Newsom proposed a plan on Thursday requiring oil refiners to keep minimum reserves of gasoline in an effort to prevent rate spikes.

The California Energy Commission said that on 63 days last year California refiners preserved less than 15 days of supply of gasoline, a situation that it stated spiked rates and expense motorists $650 million.

Cost spikes at the pump are earnings spikes for Big Oil. Refiners should be needed to plan ahead and backfill products to keep prices steady, instead of playing games to earn even more revenues, Newsom, a Democrat, said in a release.

It was unclear when the strategy could work and Newsom's. workplace did not right away react to an ask for comment.

Under the strategy, which market has actually slammed as attacking. producers, California's oil refiners would be needed to. show resupply plans that are sufficient to attend to losses. in production when their plants are undergoing maintenance work.

California found that in 2023 gasoline rates surged mostly. due to refineries going offline without effectively preparing to. backfill materials.

The strategy comes three months after the U.S. Department of. Energy offered its 1 million barrel Northeast gas reserve,. which Washington produced after 2014's Superstorm Sandy left. vehicle drivers rushing for fuel supplies. The U.S. Congress. mandated the sale after the reserve was slammed as pricey. to maintain and for not increasing energy security.

California, the most populated U.S. state, is home to some of. the nation's greatest typical gas rates and has had a. laden relationship with oil companies. The state has enthusiastic. targets for electrical automobile adoption and is the just one with a. waiver from the federal ecological regulator to set its own. automobile emissions regulations.

This month, U.S. oil business Chevron stated it was. moving its head office to Houston from San Ramon, California.

Catherine Reheis-Boyd, president and CEO of the Western. States Petroleum Association stated Newsom's plan was absolutely nothing. more than a political attack on consumers and our industry.

To impose brand-new functional mandates on energy producers. based upon such frauds is regulative malpractice, and neglects. the logistical challenges and expenses connected with such a. strategy, she stated.

(source: Reuters)