Story perspectives

California's Anti-Fossil Policies Risk National Security, Experts Warn

3/20/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The Journal Editorial Report warns that California's anti-fossil-fuel policies threaten national security amid the Iran conflict.
An analysis by the Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure finds California has lost about half its refining capacity since the 1980s, and a quarter since 2019.
Costly regulations, including a cap-and-tax program, have made refinery operations unprofitable.
The decline in refining capacity causes shortages and higher prices whenever a refinery is offline for maintenance.

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Story summary

The Journal Editorial Report warns that California's anti-fossil-fuel policies threaten national security amid the Iran conflict.
An analysis by the Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure finds California has lost about half its refining capacity since the 1980s, and a quarter since 2019.
Costly regulations, including a cap-and-tax program, have made refinery operations unprofitable.
The decline in refining capacity causes shortages and higher prices whenever a refinery is offline for maintenance.