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CARB’s September report details the projected price hikes due to reforms to the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, initiated in 2007. Gasoline prices could rise by 47 cents next year and 52 cents by 2026. Diesel is also expected to see significant increases—59 cents this year and 66 cents within two years. By 2031 to 2046, the report forecasts gasoline and diesel prices to soar by $1.15 and $1.50 per gallon, respectively, with jet fuel prices jumping by $1.21.
Interestingly, CARB staff described the gas price hike projections as “incomplete” in a December report, choosing to highlight potential long-term cost savings as California transitions towards electric vehicles (EVs). The state has ambitious plans, having already voted to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035, mandating that all new cars be emission-free by this deadline.
Governor Gavin Newsom has praised these initiatives as crucial steps towards tackling climate change. “The climate crisis is solvable if we focus on the big, bold steps necessary to stem the tide of carbon pollution,” he declared. However, these policies come with high costs. The average price of new cars and the hefty sum needed for battery replacements raise questions about affordability for average Californians.
Daniel Sperling, a member of the California Air Resources Board, underscored the significance of these changes. “This is monumental,” he told CNN in 2022. “This is the most important thing that CARB has done in the last 30 years. It’s important not just for California, but it’s important for the country and the world.”
ALERT! Major Water Restrictions In Effect!
Despite these optimistic outlooks, practical concerns remain. With the state’s electric infrastructure already challenged by frequent blackouts, the feasibility of supporting millions of EVs is uncertain. As California moves forward with its green agenda, residents grapple with the immediate ramifications of rising fuel costs, posing a critical question: At what point does the cost of environmental progress become too great for its citizens?
