[SmithL]

Locally, the unions convinced local government to allow the unions to have control over any new building or refinery upgrades. As a result, the refineries won't build or upgrade.

[Gondring]

I've heard there are multiple formulations of gasoline in California based on geography, too, causing economy of scale problems. That is, "boutique formulations" are required for some areas, raising costs and prices.

Can someone verify/debunk this?

Thanks!

[Carry_Okie]

"In terms of a reduction in total pollution, it is one of the most efficient programs out there," said Roland Hwang, vehicles policy director for the Natural Resources Defense Counsel. "We are fighting for every ton of pollution reduction we can get, and there aren't other sources out there short of closing down power plants."

The NRDC is a consortium of primarily oil and gas interests posing as an environmental group. They do everything they can to maintain energy shortages.

[mvpel]

"In terms of a reduction in total pollution, it is one of the most efficient programs out there," said Roland Hwang, vehicles policy director for the Natural Resources Defense Counsel. "We are fighting for every ton of pollution reduction we can get, and there aren't other sources out there short of closing down power plants."

And they did that a few years ago to the point where Governor Davis was scrambling to squander the state's tax dollars on high-priced long-term electricity contracts.

If they'd build nuclear power plants, they could close down the fossil-fuel burners.

[kittymyrib]

The enviro-nazis would rather have the oil off-shore in CA seeping from the ocean floor and polluting the water than to drill for oil to use for gasoline. I think such ignorant people should pay at least double what the people in Texas and Louisiana pay, since those two states have been producing off-shore oil for the other free-loading states for 40 years.

[Michael.SF.]

Evian water @ $1.29 per pint = $10.32 per gallon

Now, tell me again about the high cost of gas?

[Michael.SF.]

As a result, the refineries won't build or upgrade.

Sorry, there are currently and have been numerous "upgrade" projects in California. Shell Martinez a few years ago added a new unit with a DCU, Chevron El Segundo, Arco/BP, Exxon/Tesoro Benica, Exxon/Mobil (Torrance and many others have all had upgrades such as debottlenecking and mechanical upgrades. Most upgrades have been for increased production at existing facilities.

[Crazieman]

Market manipulation in Cali is crap.

If you want to see manipulation, come here.

You can drive 5 miles and see the same gas price on every corner. Doesn't matter what the company is.

[B Knotts]

Also, the State of California bans new small diesel cars, so that more fuel is wasted.

[Rodney King]

Severin Borenstein, director of the University of California Energy Institute, said the scarcity alone drives up prices, but it also "puts sellers in a position to jack up prices above competitive levels."

Huh? If it is scarcity that drives the prices up, then its not that prices are above competitive levels, it is simple supply and demand i.e. the competitive level is higher in CA then elsewhere.

[Rodney King]

We are addicted to a product produced by nations that are doing a great deal of harm in the world ...

BS. Imagine what the harm would be if we didn't use it. We would have 500 million horses crapping all over the streets, and the size of our economy would be about 1/2 what it is today.

[ArtyFO]

Kalifornia doesn't want nasty, smelly, refineries located there.

[Tacis]

The government of the People's Republic of California usee the extreme taxes on fuel as yet another method of transferring wealth from evil white Christians to the folks who truly deserve it.

[1Old Pro]

TAXES

[greasepaint]

I don't like how the article used the word 'reformulated'.

California gasoline, by state law, is different.
Gasoline must meet Cal law for 'volatile organic content'.
Making it different.
On top of that, California has banned MTBE.
{or it did, will, in effect now' or some combination of that}
In areas that need 'oxygenated gas' to meet
Fedreal law in designated 'smog areas',
mtbe is the prefered oxygenate.
If mtbe is banned, alcohol is the next choice,
but the 'gasoline
blendstock' asociated with alcohol
is more difficult to make.

[SierraWasp]

It's the LAW!!! And your danged lawmakers with help from lobbyists and litiguous lawyers from the EnvironMental Comyoonutty have made it happen while you were at work!!!

[Grendel9]

Well, sure, the refinery problem is a big factor. But
we don't have refineries here in Illinois either.

The title of this article is "WHY?" so high in California! I can't believe Californians are that dull-witted! You've repeatedly elected those Democrats (Boxer/Feinstein/et al)who insist upon taxing you out of your own homes to support all those give-away programs for the illegals and
indigents who have flocked into your state for years because of all the benefits California provides for
them and their kids. You said you'd pay for all those
freebies!

So stop belly-aching when you go to the gas pump!
Take a look at the TAX added onto the base price!

[SF Republican]

I do not think it is expensive, relative to other items, housing for example. When I started driving in 1975 it was 99 cents a gallon, now about 150% higher at $2.50, you could buy a house in Sausalito, Marin County, view of SF, Golden Gate Bridge for $40,000. now that same house is $1million easy a 2500% increase, wages for my job (my dad did the same as I) was closer to $25,000 a year, now $75,000 a 300% increase. I do not feel gas is too expensive at all, it is just the libs crying because "all of Bushes cronies" are putting it to us.

[hosepipe]

[ Why does gas cost so much in California? ]

Easy really...
Mexifornia has the highest per capita percentage of MoonBats than any State..
MoonBats are parasites.... ON EACH OTHER..
And Taxes are political and economic parasitism..

[Age of Reason]

Why does gas cost so much in California?

Overpopulation.

[BurbankKarl]

Its all BS...Arizona was 20 cents cheaper when I went last week.