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3 reasons California’s green energy campaign is dying on the vine

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11 months ago

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3 reasons California’s green energy campaign is dying on the vine

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California Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom’s presidential aspirations are Washington’s worst-kept secret. More than three years before the next election, he’s on the campaign trail in South Carolina, protesting immigration raids on cannabis farms and even politicizing the Second Family’s visit to Disneyland. 

Before Newsom gets anywhere near Washington, he must “confront his California problem,” as even Politico observed. Blessed with incredible natural resources, the Golden State has the highest living costs in the nation. Nowhere is this trend more evident than in energy, where there is a direct correlation between Newsom’s wrong-headed policies and overall unaffordability. 

Here are three examples. 

SOUTH CAROLINA GOP URGES TRUMP SUPPORTERS TO GIVE GAVIN NEWSOM A ‘HUGE SOUTHERN WELCOME’

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California gas taxes are going up 

At $4.51 per gallon, California drivers already pay the most at the pump — that’s 45% higher than the national average, which hit a four-year low during the recent Independence Day holiday and kept dropping. 

California gas prices continue to be far higher than the national average. FILE: Traffic jam during rush hour commute on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California, USA.

As bad as that sounds, the pain is only just beginning. On July 1, motorists were hit with another 1.6-cent gas tax, and overall gas taxes are expected to cost the average household $612 over the course of the year. A separate $0.05-$0.09 tax increase is expected not far behind. Newsom’s office touted the decline in gas prices by issuing a press release bragging about it.  

California refineries are closing 

Sadly, the latest gas tax could pale in comparison to other factors. Industry experts are projecting a gallon of gas potentially reaching $8 in the aftermath of California refinery closures. 

GAVIN NEWSOM IS MAKING A STRATEGIC VISIT TO A KEY PRIMARY STATE, RAISING EYEBROWS

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For crude oil to become a usable petroleum product like gasoline, it must go through the refining process. Earlier this year, the Phillips 66 refinery in Los Angeles and the Valero refinery in Benicia announced plans to close by 2026, taking nearly 20% of the state’s total gasoline production with them, not to mention hundreds of jobs. 

The trend is part of a sad and steady decline directly attributed to increasing red tape and regulations. During the 1980s, under the presidential administration of its former governor Ronald Reagan, California had as many as 43 operating refineries, a number that plummeted to just 14 last year, a drop of 67%. This is not for lack of resources. In fact, California has the fifth most oil reserves in the nation, outpacing places like Colorado and Oklahoma more often associated with the industry.  

California is home to extreme green policies 

Newsom has denigrated the oil and gas industry as the “polluted heart of this climate crisis.” He accused them of “lying and gouging Californians” and blamed them for “more kids getting asthma.” 

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Along the way, he pursued policies aimed at making his state “carbon neutral” by 2045. That’s political speak for ending oil and gas entirely in favor of “cleaner” forms of energy like wind and solar, which are unreliable, untested and often rely on products from China (where roughly 80% of the world’s solar panels are manufactured). 

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STEVE HILTON: GAVIN NEWSOM’S $9 GAS NIGHTMARE LOOMS OVER THE GOLDEN STATE

A lynchpin of Newsom’s scheme was forcing drivers into electric vehicles. By 2035, less than a decade from now, 100% of vehicles sold in California were to be electric under a Newsom administration mandate that the U.S. Senate thankfully overturned in May. 

As painful as the edict would have been for California’s nearly 40 million residents, the shockwaves were set to extend far and wide. As many as 13 states were on a track to follow where California was leading. 

Turning Point USA leader Charlie Kirk (right) is the guest on California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (left) inaugural edition of his “This is Gavin Newsom” podcast. (Gavin Newsom on X)

NEWSOM DEBUTS RAPID-RESPONSE WEBSITE AS CRITICS ACCUSE HIM OF PRIORITIZING PRESIDENTIAL AMBITIONS

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To his political credit, Newsom appears aware of the unpopularity of some of his policies. He went on Turning Point USA President Charlie Kirk’s podcast and turned heads by calling the concept of biological men competing in women’s sports “unfair,” but that demonstrates the power the green movement.  

Newsom is far more likely to flip-flop on cultural issues than admit the green agenda is failing his state. In the aftermath of President Donald Trump making the rollback of the EV mandates official, Newsom’s administration immediately took legal action and signed an executive order “doubling down” (his words) on his commitment to the nonsensical plan. 

At the heart of the dissatisfaction with the Biden years was inflation and high costs of living, making it the top priority for more than six in 10 voters. Making energy expensive made life expensive and Americans could not afford another four years of Biden/Harris energy policies. Newsom’s stubborn commitment to the failed green agenda, which has failed California spectacularly, should send his White House bid sputtering before it gets out of the starting gates. 

DANIEL TURNER

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Daniel Turner is the founder and executive director of Power The Future, a national nonprofit organization that advocates for American energy jobs. Contact him at daniel@powerthefuture.com and follow him on Twitter @DanielTurnerPTF



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Washington

Social media reacts to former BYU star AJ Dybantsa going No. 1 in 2026 NBA draft

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11 minutes ago

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June 23, 2026

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Social media reacts to former BYU star AJ Dybantsa going No. 1 in 2026 NBA draft


Former BYU basketball star AJ Dybantsa fulfilled his dream of going No. 1 overall in the 2026 NBA draft.

The Washington Wizards selected Dybantsa with the first pick.

Immediately after the pick, reactions poured in on social media about the Wizards drafting Dybantsa.

Social media reactions to the Washington Wizards selecting BYU star AJ Dybantsa

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSL and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.

Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.

Want more coverage of BYU sports? Take us with you wherever you go.

Download the new and improved KSL Sports app from Utah’s sports leader. Allows you to stream live radio and video, keeping you up to date on all your favorite teams.

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Wyoming

American Rare Earths strengthens board with veteran Wyoming mine builder ahead of planned Nasdaq listing

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26 minutes ago

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June 23, 2026

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American Rare Earths strengthens board with veteran Wyoming mine builder ahead of planned Nasdaq listing


American Rare Earths strengthens board with veteran Wyoming mine builder ahead of planned Nasdaq listing Proactive uses images sourced from Shutterstock

Veteran mine builder Matthew Gili will join American Rare Earths Ltd (ASX:ARR, OTCQX:ARRNF)’s board as a non-executive director as the company advances the Halleck Creek Rare Earths Project in Wyoming and prepares for a planned Nasdaq compliance listing in H2 2026.

Gili is currently president and CEO of Ur-Energy Inc, a NYSE American and TSX-listed Wyoming uranium producer, and brings more than 25 years of mine development and operational experience across major global mining groups including Rio Tinto and Barrick.

His appointment remains subject to completion of Australian regulatory formalities, which American Rare Earths expects to be completed shortly.

Once formally appointed, Gili will join the company’s Technical Committee and contribute to the Definitive Feasibility Study workstream at Halleck Creek, which American Rare Earths describes as the largest known rare earth deposit in the United States on a total rare earth oxide basis.

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Board renewal ahead of US listing plans

The appointment forms part of a broader board renewal process as ARR works toward a Nasdaq compliance dual-listing in H2 2026, while retaining the ASX as its primary listing.

The company is also considering a full US domicile in 2027, subject to a prospective shareholder vote.

CEO Mark Wall said Gili’s operational experience and Wyoming background would strengthen the board as Halleck Creek moves toward construction and production.

“The intended addition of Matt to our Board of Directors further demonstrates our commitment to advancing the largest rare earth element deposit on a total contained rare earths basis in the United States toward construction and operations. Matt brings a tremendous blend of mining technical expertise and Wyoming-specific experience to both the Board and the Technical Committee. His depth of operational knowledge, his relationships in Wyoming, and his proven track record of delivering world-class mining projects, including building the first new copper mine in the United States in a decade, make him exactly the right person to help us get Halleck Creek built.

“As we progress toward our NASDAQ listing later this year, appointments of this calibre send a clear message to U.S. investors about the quality of the team and the seriousness of our intent. Matt’s experience managing ISR uranium operations in Wyoming gives him first-hand knowledge of the hydrometallurgical processing chemistry that will be central to bringing Halleck Creek into production. The parallels between uranium and rare earth processing are substantial and practically meaningful. This is not simply a credential; it is operational expertise that will directly benefit our Technical Committee and Feasibility Study.”

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San Francisco, CA

San Francisco Supervisor Jackie Fielder to return following mental health leave

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5 hours ago

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June 23, 2026

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San Francisco Supervisor Jackie Fielder to return following mental health leave


San Francisco Supervisor Jackie Fielder will resume her duties next week after taking a three-month leave of absence due to mental health.

“I’m coming clear-eyed and grounded and eager to serve in this role again,” Fielder said in a video posted to social media Tuesday.

Fielder was first elected in 2024 to serve District 9, which includes the Mission District and Bernal Heights and Portola neighborhoods. In late March of this year, her staffers announced she was taking a leave of absence to address an “acute personal health crisis” after missing a few weeks of Board of Supervisors meetings.

“I left the work that I love so much, not because I wanted to, but because my mental health demanded it, and I say that with no shame,” she said.

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In the video statement, Fielder mentioned that the pressure of serving as a supervisor took a toll on her mental health.

“I’ve often felt like the weight of this district and city is on my shoulders, and I, through this leave, have had the silver lining of understanding that it never has,” she said. “I was going 100 miles an hour since early 2023 when I started the campaign for supervisor, and being a grassroots candidate is a lot of elbow grease.”

Fielder’s staff continued some of the work in her district while she was gone. She thanked her colleagues and Mayor Daniel Lurie for their support and allowing her to be excused from meetings.

Fielder will return to work Monday and appear at the June 30 board meeting. She is also expected to host listening sessions in her district through July.

“I am an example that it is possible to come back and heal,” she said. “I could not be more honored to serve and more ready to serve.”

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