Newsom blames Chevron for California's gas-price problem

This is read by an automated voice.Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.

The blame game over surging gas prices is heating up as Gov.Gavin Newsom suggested Chevron could be gouging its customers.

California’s governor, who is not shy about promoting his positions with provocative posts, warned Memorial Day travelers on X against pumping gas at Chevron.“Californians, if you’re hitting the road this holiday weekend, be sure to AVOID Chevron,” he said in the post, which included screen grabs showing Chevron gas prices higher than those at nearby unbranded gas stations.

“Unbranded gas comes from the same refineries, storage tanks, and pipelines.” The governor’s call-out is part of a larger spat between some California politicians and Chevron.The gas company posted signs at some of its California gas stations blaming the state’s high prices on Sacramento policies.

“California politicians are choosing foreign oil and fuels over local jobs and lower costs,” the signs read.It includes a QR code that directs people to a Chevron webpage asking people to “speak up for affordable, reliable energy.”A spokesperson for Chevron did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A Chevron spokesperson told the Associated Press the signs were part of a campaign launched three years ago to educate the public on how California’s policies affect gas prices.Chevron, as well as other top energy companies and experts, has emphasized that higher taxes, fees and standards on gas in California, as well as its restrictions on refining, have bolstered prices at the pump.Gas prices are among the highest in the country, even in the best of times, and recent problems influencing supply from the Middle East have triggered a unique challenge for the state, industry leaders say.The price of gas has skyrocketed in California and across the country since the United States and Israel attacked Iran in late February.

Gas prices have not stabilized since, and...