California to lose 20% of fuel supply in 2026. Green mandates and fines push refineries to close. Valero refinery shutdown in 2026 cuts 400 jobs

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CALIFORNIA’S GAS PLAN: LESS FUEL, MORE PAIN AT THE PUMP

California is about to lose 20% of its fuel-making power, and drivers are bracing for impact.

Valero’s Benicia refinery will shut down in 2026, cutting over 400 jobs and slashing supply in a state already paying $4.83 a gallon—$1.68 above the national average.

So, lawmakers say this isn’t an accident, it’s the result of aggressive regulations, endless fines, and green mandates making it nearly impossible to stay in business.

Refineries are tapping out. Gas prices are tapping up.

And neighbors in Arizona and Nevada are watching, nervously.