Asgas prices continue climbing in California— already the highest in the nation — residents are increasingly venting their frustration at Gov. Gavin Newsom, accusing him and Sacramento of piling on policies and “taxing us to death.”
The backlash centers on draft regulations tied to the state’s Cap-and-Invest program, overseen by theCalifornia Air Resources Board, which sets a statewide cap on greenhouse gas emissions and requires major polluters to purchase allowances for each ton of carbon they emit.
Critics say tightening those caps — strongly backed by Newsom —could further drive up the cost of gasoline and dieselin a state where drivers already pay far more than the national average.
“Stop taxing us to death,” wrote Victoria Comfort in comments responding to the proposed regulations. “None of these taxes are helping Californians.
“They aren’t helping the environment. It’s policy that has screwed the oil and gas industry in CA and policy that is bankrupting Californians through more gas taxes, already the highest in the nation.”
According to the California Energy Commission, theCap-and-Invest programcurrently adds about 24 cents per gallon to the cost of gasoline in the Golden State.
Gas prices averaged around $4.80 per gallon in early March, compared with roughly $3.25 nationwide, according to AAA data.
The system works by limiting emissions from large polluters — covering roughly 80% of the state’s greenhouse gases — and forcing companies to buy allowances for each ton emitted. Each year, fewer allowances are issued, gradually tightening the cap.
Revenue from the program flows into California’sGreenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which finances climate initiatives such as transit projects and environmental programs.
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Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
