As the Memorial Day holiday travel peak approaches in the United States, California Governor Gavin Newsom and his office have publicly urged residents to avoid refueling at Chevron gas stations during the holiday weekend due to soaring fuel prices. This move signals a further escalation in the ongoing dispute between the California government and multinational oil giants over responsibility for high fuel costs.
The Governor's office issued a statement via social media, noting that unbranded gasoline comes from the same refineries, storage tanks, and pipelines as branded products and meets the same California clean fuel standards. The statement accused major oil companies of profiting from geopolitical conflicts and advised consumers against overpaying for brand premiums. An analysis by the California Energy Commission indicated that Chevron's retail gasoline prices are, on average, 60 to 80 cents per gallon higher than those of unbranded alternatives.
In response, Chevron recently posted notices at its California stations, attributing high fuel prices to the state's carbon reduction and climate policies. The notices stated that choices by California politicians have increased reliance on foreign crude oil, led to local job losses, and raised production costs. Chevron spokesperson Ross Allen reiterated that the campaign aims to inform consumers about the actual impact of California policies on energy prices. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the average price of gasoline in California is $6.14 per gallon, which is $1.58 higher than the national average. The California Energy Commission confirmed that the state imposes about 70 cents in taxes per gallon of gasoline, the highest tax burden in the nation.
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