As much of Nevada endures the warmest, driest winter on record, Gov. Joe Lombardo is looking to reverse the state\u2019s climate progress and deepen its reliance on fossil fuels.<\/p>\n
The governor\u2019s so-called fuel resiliency subcommittee<\/a> is intended to drum up support for changing how and where Nevada gets its gasoline and diesel. Citing price spikes and supply disruptions, fossil fuel trade groups<\/a> are calling on the state to sever ties with California, Nevada\u2019s primary gasoline and diesel supplier, and look east instead.<\/p>\n But California is not the problem Nevada drivers face at the pump. High gasoline prices are driven by broad market forces, and those forces only reinforce the urgency to transition from polluting transportation fuels.<\/p>\n One claim among supporters of the governor\u2019s initiative is that California refineries are shutting down because of the state\u2019s climate policies<\/a>, feeding into the familiar demonization of the Golden State. But that claim doesn\u2019t withstand scrutiny.<\/p>\n In reality, refineries in California are closing because of market forces and because the facilities are old and inefficient.<\/p>\n California gasoline consumption has been in decline since 2017<\/a>, a trend projected to continue as electric vehicles (EVs) have become a cheaper<\/a> option and are growing<\/a> increasingly popular in the state, despite the Trump administration\u2019s best efforts to kill them.<\/p>\n California refineries are also outdated and inefficient<\/a> compared to new mega-refineries abroad, which churn out more refined fuels at lower costs. Decreased gasoline demand and increased global competition<\/a> are making the state\u2019s refineries obsolete and eroding the incentive for their owners to invest in their maintenance.\u00a0<\/p>\n Wouldn\u2019t lower demand mean lower prices? Not in this case. As refineries shut down because of these trends, remaining refineries can take advantage of their growing market power and price gouge consumers to make as much money as possible in their final years. California refiners\u2019 outsized market power \u2014 which the state\u2019s Division of Petroleum Market Oversight described as an oligopoly<\/a> \u2014 is ripe for abuse, and consumers pay the price. California refiners\u2019 overcharges have cost drivers $59 billion<\/a> since 2015.<\/p>\n The solution to high gasoline prices will not come by building more pipelines or refineries, or by handing more subsidies to fossil fuel companies. The only way to escape gasoline pricing volatility is to move on from these polluting relics to a cleaner, more affordable, stable and resilient energy economy.<\/p>\n The economic case for clean energy is here right now. According to a 2025 report<\/a>, Nevadan drivers can save more money than in any other state by switching to an EV \u2014 as much as $36,000 on the total cost of vehicle ownership \u2014 a discount of up to 30 percent compared to similar models of petroleum vehicles. To address affordability, Nevada\u2019s leaders should support clean transportation so more state residents can reap the fantastic returns on investments in EVs, public transit, e-bikes, scooters and bike and pedestrian infrastructure.<\/p>\n We should plan our communities so people drive less \u2014 reducing the time and headache of long commutes where possible, with more walkable communities that are good for business<\/a> and for mental health. This offers more choices for Nevadans that can improve quality of life<\/a> and decrease household costs<\/a> by increasing competition, weakening the fossil fuel industry\u2019s grip on drivers and stabilizing transportation costs.<\/p>\n Federal policies to discourage electric vehicles and cling to fossil fuels are a backward strategy that sacrifices American jobs and industry leadership, and increases consumer costs<\/a>. The world is moving on while the U.S. cedes its auto industry leadership to China, even as its executives admit<\/a> the future is electric.<\/p>\n