Why are gas prices still so high in California?

[ansible]

It finally dropped to 2.99 at Valero here in the Central Valley...which isn't really helping much either even though it's already winter. I don't get it, it's less than $2 in other states.

[brooklynite]

1. Taxes?

They're a dollar higher in WA than they are in NY, which in turn is more expensive than NJ.

[JI7]

2. maybe but it's been at the high end just for California itself

[SHRED]

3. Try San Diego area

They say we're the end of the line to justify our prices.

[sfwriter]

4. How many refineries are shutdown for maintenance?

That was something I noticed. As prices dropped, they would suddenly develop capacity problems.

[Igel]

8. It's not refineries, I think.

California has it's own gasoline market going. Here, the gas station a few blocks down has regular for 1.87, and a mile up the freeway it's 1.84/gal.

California uses its own blend, has its own regs for refining and transportation, etc., etc. And when California imposes regulations, it doesn't just impose them on the state--it imposes them as a condition for selling in the state, in an effort to make California's regulations everybody's regulations.

[sfwriter]

9. That's cheaper than Ohio.

It's 1.99 near me.

[wasupaloopa]

5. We added taxes so we can fix our roads.

California's gas tax increase has fast-tracked road repair projects as supporters hope to stave off a repeal

https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-gas-tax-repairs-repeal-20180215-htmlstory.html



California Legislature votes to raise gas taxes, vehicle fees by $5.2 billion a year for road repairs and transit

https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-sac-california-gas-tax-vote-20170406-story.html

[KWR65]

6. We need to raise the price of gas to $10 a gallon

Automobiles are destroying the planet.

[wasupaloopa]

7. That is ridiculous. People can't stop driving, there is no alternative.

Let's get some people who make sense to work on the problem.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

14. electric commuter vehicles

Electric vehicles have been capable of handling nearly 80% of all commuting since the '60s, using old flooded lead-acid batteries. The only reason you don't see them everywhere is because there are too many revenue streams inherent in petroleum powered vehicles.

[radical noodle]

10. Oh sure..

With little in the way of public transportation in less populated areas, how do you propose people get to work or to the doctor? I lived 45 miles from my last job (I worked there for 18 years). That would have been a long trek five days a week, twice a day.

[JayhawkSD]

11. I'm going to even the odds and agree with you.

So that we have two people supporting ruining the planet with low prices and high consumption, and two people who don't think we should be destroying the planet.

We use far too much fossil fuel. Raising the price to what people in Europe pay will be a step toward saving the planet.

At least 99% of the cars on San Diego freeways have no occupants other than the driver. More than 50% of those vehicles are huge SUV's or pickup trucks. That is utterly absurd.

[MichMan]

12. There is a contradiction between wanting cheap gas and then expecting people to not consume much

Until people decide which is more important, thinking something substantial is being accomplished regarding climate change is only a myth.

[Joe941]

19. Agreed. $15 would be better.

[MicaelS]

20. Fuck that idea.

Many poor people rely on cars for transport. Public transport does not go everywhere. I know because I use public transport.

[cwydro]

13. Dropping every day here in NC.

Yay.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

15. why is gasoline taxed by the gallon?

Taxing gasoline by the gallon encourages higher prices, so that a lower percentage of the revenue goes to tax. Tax it as a percentage of price and the tax is no longer an incentive to raise the price per gallon.

[Hekate]

16. We elected Jerry Brown, remember? I sure voted for him. Gas taxes go for roads & bridges & such...

This November we doubled down by defeating Prop 6, which would have repealed the gas and diesel tax increases.

San Jose Mercury has a rundown on what they are used for

https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/07/01/gas-tax-where-does-the-money-actually-go/

[akraven]

17. Higher here, with a pipeline in our back yard.

Monopolies suck.

[MiniMe]

18. It's $2.19.9 near me.

[haele]

21. Local laws concerning ownership of stations.

We go through this in San Diego county all the time. Most stations are owned by the gas company and are franchised out, so they pretty much set the prices they want to make a profit for the company. A very few are privately owned, and they typically offset the cost they have to charge with services.
We also have specific seasonal formulas for air quality purposes, which we get charged for. Our gas taxes aren't the worst, Texas actually has higher taxes.

Haele