SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA — United States Energy Secretary Chris Wright attributed California's high fuel costs to the state's environmental policies. Wright and United States Interior Secretary Doug Burgum cited state policies, while Wright connected rising global fuel prices to military operations in Iran. California gasoline prices average approximately six dollars per gallon.
Wright stated that the administration is considering additional measures to reduce gas prices in California. He indicated the administration attempted to communicate with California Governor Gavin Newsom to offer assistance to two recently closed oil refineries in the state. Wright said, "The best course is to roll back some of the regulations that have forced the last two to close."
Wright linked global fuel prices to the Strait of Hormuz. Wright said, "The pathway to bring gasoline and diesel prices back down is to get more oil flowing through the Strait of Hormuz. Ultimately that's going to be a resolution with Iran."
Wright characterized the increased fuel costs as a trade-off for military operations aimed at eliminating Iran's nuclear weapons capability. He stated that oil operates as a global market and that U.S. fuel prices remain lower than those in Europe and Asia.
California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized Wright on the social media platform X regarding rising fuel costs during the military conflict with Iran. The Gavin Newsom Press Office stated, "After falsely railing for weeks that gas prices will go down if California just drills more in the ocean, Big Oil Shill Wright accidentally admitted the truth: 'It's a global market.'" The press office added, "Talk to his boss about stabilizing gas prices by ending the Iran war." California has limited domestic oil production and lacks pipeline infrastructure connecting it to the Gulf Coast or areas east of the Rocky Mountains. The Sable Offshore oil and gas facility near Santa Barbara, California, resumed operations this year after President Donald Trump invoked the Defense Production Act to override state regulations.