Part 5/11:
Fuel prices are already soaring, with California’s gasoline the most expensive in the nation—costs driven not solely by market dynamics but by deliberate policy decisions. These include regulations demanding specific fuel blends, taxes, and an overall regulatory environment that discourages refining investment. As refineries shutter or reduce capacity, supply tightens, pushing prices even higher. Consumers in California are already paying well above the national average—a situation exacerbated by the state’s efforts to pursue green energy with little regard for economic fallout.