California drivers are facing a gas price crisis. With current prices averaging $4.88 per gallon according to AAA, experts warn that gas could reach a devastating $9 per gallon by 2026. Steve Hilton has a comprehensive plan to reverse this trend and bring California gas prices down to $3 per gallon through common-sense reforms.

Why California Gas Prices Are the Highest in America

California currently has the highest gas prices in the nation – higher even than Hawaii, despite the state’s abundant oil reserves. This pricing crisis stems from 15 years of misguided Democratic policies that prioritize ideology over affordability.

The Path to $9 Gas: Failed Democratic Policies

California Democrats have prioritized ‘climate’ ideology over affordability, driving out oil refineries, shutting down cleaner in-state oil production, and piling on extreme, unnecessary regulations. Democrats have declared a “war on fossil fuel”, with a stated goal of “net zero” carbon emissions by 2045 – a wildly unrealistic target with an incredibly costly and destructive price tag.

Their policies are chasing refineries out of the state. Phillips 66 in Los Angeles is shutting down, as is Valero’s Benicia refinery which was also recently crippled by fire. PBF’s Torrance facility is under pressure. Over 25% of California’s refining capacity could be lost within the next two years, a collapse that would require a massive and sudden increase in finished gasoline imports and send prices soaring.

Extreme environmental program costs drive up prices significantly. These programs, including the cap-and-trade fees tied to gasoline, add about 54 cents per gallon to gas prices. Under Governor Newsom’s unrealistic plan to achieve net-zero emissions by 2045, a significant portion of cap-and-trade revenues—25% annually—is allocated to the high-speed rail project, which has faced substantial delays and cost overruns, raising concerns about its effectiveness in reducing emissions.

Low Carbon Fuel Standard compliance costs add roughly 40 cents per gallon. Originally intended to reduce smog, many of these regulations are outdated or duplicative of modern vehicle emissions standards. The reformulation requirements and other extreme and unnecessary refinery regulations pile additional costs onto California drivers.

State excise taxes hit California drivers with 60 cents per gallon in excise taxes, which contribute significantly to prices at the pump. Much of this tax revenue, intended to improve roads and transportation infrastructure directly, is wasted in sprawling, costly and cumbersome design and procurement bureaucracy.

Burdensome regulations on oil producers create additional costs through excessive permitting delays, drilling restrictions, and costly new laws like SB1-2 and AB2-1 that have driven up prices and made it harder to produce affordable energy in California, costing drivers up to 25 cents more per gallon. These laws discourage in-state production, forcing California to import more expensive fuel from around the world, which increases emissions and prices.

Steve Hilton’s Four-Point Gas Price Reform Plan

As governor, Steve Hilton will work with the legislature where possible, and use executive action where necessary, to implement common sense environmental regulation of energy in California, freed from the ideological constraints of the Democrats’ impractical and ruinously costly ‘net zero’ target. These deregulatory reforms will move us towards $3 gas, in line with costs in the rest of the country.

Eliminate extreme ‘environmental program’ costs, including hidden taxes such as payments to the cap-and-trade system to fund the failed high speed rail fiasco. These programs have become vehicles for wasteful spending rather than effective environmental protection, adding unnecessary costs that working families cannot afford.

Suspend the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), reformulation requirements, and other extreme and unnecessary refinery regulation. Originally intended to reduce smog, many of these regulations are outdated or duplicative of modern vehicle emissions standards. The compliance costs add roughly 40 cents per gallon with minimal environmental benefit, as modern vehicles already meet strict emissions standards.

Reduce bureaucracy and reform procurement to reduce excise tax by 50%. California charges 60 cents per gallon in excise taxes, but much of this revenue intended to improve roads and transportation infrastructure is wasted in sprawling, costly and cumbersome design and procurement bureaucracy. By streamlining these processes and enforcing transparency in gas tax fund allocation, Californians can see that this tax operates as intended, to finance road infrastructure.

Aggressively reduce crude oil imports, especially from authoritarian regimes with terrible environmental and human rights records, by rapidly expanding California production. Excessive permitting delays, drilling restrictions, and costly new laws like SB1-2 and AB2-1 have driven up prices and made it harder to produce affordable energy in California. These laws discourage in-state production, forcing California to import more expensive fuel from around the world, which increases emissions and prices. Expanding domestic production will reduce shipping and port fees, insurance, and logistics delays, cutting input costs for refineries.

The Economic Impact and Why This Matters for California Families

High gas prices disproportionately hurt:

• Working-class families with long commutes
• Small businesses operating on thin margins
• Rural communities dependent on transportation

By 2026, without reform, California families could face:

• $8.43 per gallon from refinery shutdowns (USC Professor Michael Mische)
• Additional 65 cents from LCFS increases
• Total: $9+ per gallon

Environmental Benefits of Hilton’s Plan

Contrary to Democratic claims, Steve Hilton’s plan will actually improve environmental outcomes:

• Reduced emissions from shorter transportation distances
• Cleaner California production vs. imports from countries with poor environmental standards
• Modern refining technology that’s more efficient than older facilities
• Elimination of wasteful programs like the high-speed rail boondoggle

Implementation Timeline

Day 1: Executive actions to suspend LCFS and begin regulatory reform
Month 1: Audit of gas tax spending and procurement reform
Month 3: Streamlined permitting for oil production
Year 1: Full implementation of $3 gas plan

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How realistic is $3 gas in California? A: Very realistic. These reforms would align California’s gas prices with national averages, where $3 gas is common in many states.

Q: Will this hurt the environment? A: No. The plan promotes cleaner domestic production over imports from countries with poor environmental standards, actually reducing overall emissions.

Q: How quickly could prices drop? A: Some relief would be immediate through executive action, with full benefits realized within 12 months.

The Choice is Clear: $9 Gas vs. $3 Gas

California voters face a clear choice in the upcoming election.

Democrats: Continue failed policies leading to $9 gas
Steve Hilton: Common-sense reforms for $3 gas

Support Affordable Gas for California

California families deserve relief from crushing gas prices. Steve Hilton’s plan offers a proven path to affordable energy while maintaining environmental responsibility.

Ready to support $3 gas?

• Follow Steve Hilton’s campaign for updates
• Share this plan with friends and family
• Volunteer to help spread the word about gas price reform

The time for change is now. California can’t afford four more years of policies that drive gas prices toward $9 per gallon. Steve Hilton has the plan to bring prices down to $3 – let’s make it happen.