Gas prices could top $8 in California by 2026 due to refinery closures, report warns

In contrast to the people below, and as a Californian who still owns a gas car: good.
Gas powered vehicles need to go. Gas externalizes too many of its costs already.
- What alternative transportation is California going to provide then? I agree, cars suck, but you’ve got to give people something realistic and convenient, otherwise you’re just putting a paywall on freedom of movement.
  
  The idea was to transition everyone to EVs. The problem is that not everyone can afford to just up and buy a new vehicle, and it's naive to think people can get by without one, especially in much of CA and the rest of the US where public transit absolutely blows. They're putting the cart before the horse and not giving a shit about people who aren't the monopoly man, as is tradition.
  
  Let's run a rail line up the middle of the 5. We can give up some traffic lanes.
  
  They're already was one, and this might help us get away from that

Yeah as much of an environmentalist that I am, I don't think prices surging that high in California (and the west coast in general, is my understanding) would be great from an environmental aspect. In the short term there would be some reduction in gas use, but I can imagine Republicans and other pouncing on this politically to roll back some environmental legislation.
- but I can imagine Republicans and other pouncing on this politically to roll back some environmental legislation.
  They're already doing that anyway today and gas is nowhere near $8/gallon.
  
  That is true, but people start to agree with Republicans more when they personally affected. People don't like spikes in the price of anything, especially gasoline.
  
  Last time I was in California, it was over half way to $8 already.
  Edit: not sure why people are downvoting, it’s just a simple fact that was confirmed by another poster too. Numbers are numbers. Here’s a website showing the current prices in Ventura to be over $4:
  https://www.gasbuddy.com/gasprices/california/ventura
- The shutdown, and resulting price increase is twofold.
  It gives them an excuse to set prices where they want, despite a global collapse in prices, allowing them to pad their profit margins.
  It puts pressure on governments to remove regulations and taxes, allowing the companies to increase their profit margin.
  Its a long running song and dance, it is complete garbage and they need to be prosecuted.
- Assuming they don't just do that anyway
  
  They will try regardless but giving them a reason will only help them succeed
- Education rates are just too high out here for Republicans to succeed, but we do have to have actual governing as were a highly populated state with very specific needs, so in all likelihood this will be remedied.

Good. Hopefully it will encourage more protected bike Lanes and rail Transit
- And when are those rail projects getting built? Oh yeah, they keep stalling out.
  I'm all for reducing car dependency, but we need viable alternatives before, not as an afterthought.

BUT ITS DOWN TO 1.98!!!