Part 4/9:
Three of Newsom’s top energy officials faced tough criticisms from concerned lawmakers as they sought clarification on why refineries were exiting the state at an alarming rate. The narrative spun by these officials—that oil companies were excessively profiting from California was quickly dismissed. Questions arose from assembly members wondering how profitable these firms could be if they were abandoning the state altogether. This contradiction was spotlighted when Democratic Assembly member Kotti Petri-Norris pointed out that while there might be profits, the mass exit of refineries implied a broken system.