California seems to have a plan to chase all gasoline businesses out of their state:

Gavin Newsom PANICS after Chevron LEAVES California
YouTube | 12/17/2025 | Steve Turley

… Chevron‘s announcement to relocate its headquarters from California to Houston, Texas, after over 140 years, with CEO Mike Wirth citing high taxes, excessive regulations, and a difficult business environment that impacts retaining engineers.

Valero is reported to be closing its Benicia refinery by April 2026, accepting a $1 billion loss rather than comply with state mandates, resulting in job losses, a 20% budget hit to Benicia, and potential gas supply issues. Phillips 66 is shutting down its Los Angeles refinery by the end of December 2025, eliminating 139,000 barrels per day of fuel production. Combined, these closures are said to remove nearly 20% of California’s gasoline refining capacity within a year.

California’s policies mentioned include cap-and-trade requiring carbon emissions allowances, a unique gasoline blend mandate isolating the state from national markets, and legislation capping refinery profit margins. The state lacks pipelines to other U.S. refineries, and the federal Jones Act restricts domestic shipping to U.S.-flagged vessels, limiting imports from places like Texas.

Governor Of California PANICS After Shell LEAVES California
youtube | 12/18/2025 | Pump Report

… the state’s strict refinery requirements, low-carbon fuel standards, and environmental regulations create a perfect storm for sky-high prices at the pump. … the Cap-and-Trade program adds hidden costs to every gallon, and even minor supply disruptions send prices skyrocketing. 

Permanent Closure Requirements for Underground Storage Tank with Single-Walled Components.
CA WATERBOARDS / X | 12/19/2025 | Mike Netter

In 2014, California passed a bill mandating that all gasoline storage tanks in the state of California be upgraded from single wall tanks to double wall tanks. The law will go into effect on January 1, 2026. As a result of this law, across the state 473 gas stations will close.

“I don’t know. Try loading fewer images of MaryAnn?”