SACRAMENTO, California — Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers are scrambling to avert two refinery closures, reauthorize cap and trade, and rebuff the Trump administration’s attacks on electric vehicle policy — and they’re running out of time to get everything done.
State officials, oil industry representatives and environmental justice leaders joined POLITICO California policy editor Debra Kahn at POLITICO’s Sacramento Summit on Wednesday to discuss how the climate world is navigating the final 12 days of a legislative session that is shaping up to be one of the most consequential in recent years.
The conversation took place against the backdrop of planned refinery closures by Phillips 66 and Valero in the coming months, which some experts project could increase average gas prices by more than $1.20 per gallon by next August. The possibility of a price jump has ensured that gasoline policy will again dominate negotiations around energy affordability.
Here are the top takeaways from the wide-ranging discussion in Sacramento:
