The Misconception of California’s Lower Demand for Gasoline and Diesel Sparks Debate

California’s energy debate often rests on a convenient narrative: gasoline and diesel demand is falling, so aging refineries can—and should—simply close. A recent CalMatters commentary by Ranjit Deshmukh, an environmental studies associate professor at UC Santa Barbara, advances exactly this view. Titled in essence “Aging oil refineries don’t need more public dollars. California should let […]

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California is ramping its war with the White House over Energy

California is escalating its legal and political confrontation with the Trump administration over energy policy. As detailed in a recent OilPrice.com analysis, Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration and state officials are pushing back hard against federal actions favoring fossil fuels, including the reallocation of offshore wind funds, challenges to the California Coastal Commission, and the use […]

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Progressives and Socialist Democrats set to recharge the Green New Deal for the AI era

A fresh wave of progressive Democrats, including self-described democratic socialists, is poised to reshape the Democratic Party’s approach to climate and energy policy. Fresh off primary victories that unseated moderate incumbents in safe blue districts, these lawmakers aim to revive and expand the Green New Deal (GND) to address the explosive energy demands of artificial […]

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What America and Virginia needs right Now

Kim Farrington, a candidate for the U.S. Senate in Virginia, stopped by the EnergyNews Beat Podcast to discuss her campaign strategy of listening to Virginia voters and addressing their concerns. Kim Farrington is a candidate for U.S. Senate in Virginia, running on an America First platform, and she stopped by the Energy News Beat podcast […]

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California Extends Its Key Climate Programs, Condemning the State to High Energy Prices

On Friday, May 29, 2026, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved sweeping updates to the state’s Cap-and-Invest program (formerly Cap-and-Trade), extending California’s signature climate initiative through 2045. State regulators framed the changes as a balanced move to meet aggressive greenhouse gas reduction targets while supporting affordability and preventing industry “leakage”—the exodus of major polluters […]

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