Part 8/11:
Governor Newsom's emergency order highlights a recognition of the economic risks but does not fundamentally address the root problem—the state’s overregulation. The executive action is a short-term remedy to prevent immediate chaos but doesn't resolve the underlying policies that have driven refineries out of business. Moving forward, the state faces a dilemma: continue chasing aggressive environmental goals at the expense of energy security or adapt policies to sustain a functional fuel supply.
State officials cite economic analyses demonstrating potential cascading impacts—rising transportation costs, harm to rural communities, declining competitiveness, and tourism impacts—yet these are directly linked to the regulatory choices made over the years.