The American Spectator; "In its latest move to echo Venezuela, California’s energy commission touts government control of the state’s once-booming petroleum industry."
“Running a refinery requires expertise, efficiency, and adaptability — qualities not typically associated with government-run enterprises.”
"Fresh on the heels of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s emergency legislative session that blamed corporate greed and price gouging for the state’s absurdly high gasoline prices, the state is seriously considering a government takeover of the state’s refineries. I kid you not.
"If you think gas prices are high under the state’s absurdly regulated market-based system, just imagine what they’ll be under this scenario. California’s leaders don’t want us driving anyway, so then they could just raise prices at will — rather than indirectly through taxes and regulations — and force us into short-range electric vehicles. And California isn’t exactly known for efficiently operating anything. But at least oil refinery workers will get great pensions.
"This possibility isn’t from the musings of paranoid conservatives.
“ 'Russia. China. Venezuela. Iran. More than a dozen countries make gasoline at state-owned refineries. Could California be next on the list?” asked the Los Angeles Times in an article this week. “California policymakers are considering state ownership of one or more oil refineries, one item on a list of options presented by the California Energy Commission to ensure steady gas supplies as oil companies pull back from the refinery business in the state.”
"Right after that special session resulted in the passage of a pointless and symbolic new law forcing refineries to maintain larger oil reserves, Phillips 66 announced its plan to shutter its Los Angeles operations and eliminate a total of 900 jobs (employees and contractors). “With the long-term sustainability of our Los Angeles Refinery uncertain and affected by market dynamics, we are working with leading land development firms to evaluate the future use of our unique and strategically located properties,” the company’s CEO said.
"In August, Chevron — a company that has operated continually in California since 1879 — announced that it would move its corporate headquarters to Texas. California officials offered snarky responses. A spokesperson for Gavin Newsom said the governor wasn’t surprised and that “We’re proud of California’s place as the leading creator of clean energy jobs — a critical part of our diverse, innovative and vibrant economy.” Blah, blah, blah.
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