California’s High Gas Prices and Refinery Closures Have Real Consequences

Gasoline prices in California have climbed in the past 14 days, approximately 40 cents per gallon.  In the Northern part of the state, farmers and ranchers are feeling the increase in gas and diesel.

California’s average price for a gallon of regular gas today, Feb. 13, 2026, is $4.56. Ten days ago it was $4.37.

Petroleum expert Michael Ariza, told the Globe Friday, “I’m afraid Valero will have more of an effect on our region. In the Bay Area we only have two out of five refineries producing gasoline, jet fuel, and propane. Valero is down, Conoco Phillips in Rodeo and Marathon in Martinez are only producing bio diesel!”

Refineries shutting down is a real world problem for many industries, businesses and families in California.

A Northern California farmer near Chico, California told Ariza, “It’s happening big time!! We knew it!! You tried to tell everyone
We bought a lot of red diesel for the tractors for harvest already.”

“Also, gas prices in Chico are climbing.”

Chico is in Butte County, where a gallon of regular gas averages $4.42. A gallon of diesel averages $4.76 in Butte County.

The farmer continued:

“The high price of diesel and gas for our tractors and in our farming almond and apiary operation is going to put a lot of farmers and beekeepers out of business especially during harvest in July thru October for almonds, walnuts and honey production. If there is a shortage we won’t be able to get our crops harvested.
The price has already drastically risen and all the farmers are really worried.

Most farmers in our area Northern California use diesel pumps for irrigation and it will be unaffordable.”

The farmer’s son also weighed in, with even more detail:

“The high price for fuel has already taken affect to many farmers. Many have tried to cut back on using larger equipment when they can, but for some things it’s just not possible. We farm almonds and when the trees fall we cut them with a chain saw, which uses gas, and then have to push the brush out of the rows with the tractor, which uses diesel. We also use the tractor to mow the grass in our orchard ever two to three weeks. This is some of just the day to day activities every farmer encounters. Our farm is a special circumstance where we also have a bee apiary that uses equipment as well. In a bee apiary the hives need to be checked weekly if not more often which takes a vehicle to be able to get to them. If you have driven through the Sacramento Valley recently, you have probably seen the almonds blooming and a bunch of white boxes sitting out in these orchards. The hives do not appear there by themselves. Many beekeepers, us included, move the bees into the Orchards at night using one ton, two ton, and semi-trucks along with our forklifts. These trucks all use diesel and so do the forklifts. With the price of fuel increasing due to refineries shutting down, many bee keepers and farmers will not be able to continue to operate the equipment they need on a day to day basis. I have given you examples from our own life living on an almond farm and having a honey bee apiary, but with a fuel shortage and increased pricing it will affect every part of the farming industry: Cattle, vegetables, tree nuts, honey, rice, stone fruits, berries, and even fish. The prices will increase in the store and at local farmers markets, and many smaller family farms will continue to go under due to the inability to pay for the high fuel prices or even the fuel shortages.”

He said, “With the price of fuel increasing due to refineries shutting down, many bee keepers and farmers will not be able to continue to operate the equipment they need on a day to day basis.”

And Gov. Newsom will blame Donald Trump, rather than his own executive orders, bills signed into law and regulatory policies.

So while Gavin Newsom is playing International Man of Mystery in Germany at a “high-profile European gathering,” taking glamour shots and trash talking President Trump, California farmers and ranchers, truckers, manufacturers, and many more industries are suffering. Many say they will not be able to sustain if gas and diesel prices keep rising.

California today produces less than 23% of its own in-state petroleum needs and imports over 65% of its crude oil from foreign sources, yet the oil and gas industry in California account for nearly 8% of the state’s GDP, even in its diminished capacity.

In 1988, the state of California only imported about 4.5% of all the oil that we consumed in our state. By 2020 we were importing over 70%.

Notably, China is bringing in a lot of our jet fuel and the gasoline their Chinese Costco tankers, Ariza said. Why would Gov. Gavin Newsom allow that? (she asked tongue-in-cheek).