BAKERSFIELD, Calif (KBAK/KBFX) As the United States and Israel continue to bombard Iran with missiles, some Kern County locals are worried the conflict could drive up gas prices across California.
Asked whether prices could rise because of the conflict in Iran, Lake Isabella resident Barbara Peachy said, “Sure they will. Absolutely.”
Others said higher prices at the pump would add to the financial strain many people already feel.
Kern County residents brace for higher gas prices amid U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
“I mean it’s hard for people to get by these days and so with everything going up including gas. It can definitely be very stressful,” said Kristen Silva.
In a press conference on Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom said a team is already meeting regularly to address oil-related concerns.
“The good news is, as you know well, because of those refinery issues we’ve got a wonderful group of people that are meeting on a consistent basis already. This just only reinforces the concerns we have as it relates to gas scarcity,” Newsom said.
Stuart Heisler, vice president of Anacapa Engineering, said the conflict could have an outsized impact on California because of the state’s reliance on imported oil.
Kern County residents brace for higher gas prices amid U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
“Twenty percent of our actual barrels of oil coming into California are from the Strait of Hormuz. So that oil is gone,” Heisler said.
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway along the southern coast of Iran that provides passage to one-fifth of the world’s oil supply and has been closed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.
Heisler said California could see a sharper impact than other places.
“As much as we’re going to see a spike in oil price and gasoline price across the world and the country – we’re going to get hit double in California,” he said.
Kern County residents brace for higher gas prices amid U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran(U.S. Navy via AP)
He also said prices were already rising. “We are already seeing the price of oil go up six – seven percent over the weekend,” Heisler said.