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For years, California Democrats have championed progressive environmental policies, often at the expense of the state's energy landscape. As gas prices soar to unprecedented levels, many residents have voiced concerns over the potential impact of these measures on their cost of living. The latest news from Valero, a major player in California’s oil refining sector, has only intensified these anxieties. They have announced plans to shut down their refinery in April 2026 due to an increasingly untenable business climate in the state, prompting predictions that gas prices could hit $8 per gallon in the near future. The reaction from the state’s lawmakers has been one of panic as they rush to address the fallout from a potential public relations disaster.