EDITORIAL: Don’t overlook California’s role in Nevada’s high gas prices

EDITORIAL: Don’t overlook California’s role in Nevada’s high gas prices Las Vegas Review-Journal September 7, 2026 - 9:00 pm The most enduring challenge for Nevada motorists does not stem from events in the Strait of Hormuz; it arises from California’s campaign against fossil fuels. On Labor Day, AAA reported that the average price of gasoline in Nevada hovered around $5 a gallon, markedly above the Labor Day benchmark of $3.82 set in 2012. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Aaron Ford shared an image on social media depicting a Reno pump reading $5.69, attributing the surge to the Iran War. While the Iran War has certainly pushed prices upward, Ford has not explained how, as Nevada’s attorney general, he could influence overseas policy in the Middle East. Nevadans would benefit more if he addressed a nearer issue: California’s shrinking refinery capacity. Because of existing pipelines, Nevada derives roughly 88 percent of its gasoline from California. During the last twelve months, two major California refineries ceased operation, leaving the state with just six large facilities. In 2017 California’s refining capacity stood at approximately 2 million barrels per day; today it falls below 1.5 million barrels per day. These shutdowns are not accidental; they follow deliberate policy choices by California Democrats. Governor Gavin Newsom and fellow Democrats have committed the state to achieving net‑zero carbon emissions by 2045, a goal that necessitates curbing gasoline refining activity. Consequently, Nevada’s gas prices exceed those of most other regions. For comparison, Texas recorded a Labor Day price of $3.67 per gallon, whereas Nevada’s cost a year earlier was $3.86 per gallon. Texas gasoline remains cheaper amid the Iran War than Nevada’s fuel did before the conflict began. Had President Donald Trump not suspended the Jones Act, California’s predicament—and by extension Nevada’s—would be worse. The state had relied on Asian oil to meet demand, a supply chain significantly disrupted by the Iran War. Nevada officials can act more directly on conditions in neighboring states. Governor Joe Lombardo, for instance, has publicly criticized Newsom’s approach and established the Nevada Fuel Resiliency Committee to explore ways to lessen dependence on California. Although no easy fixes exist, the Western Gateway Pipeline shows promise. In contrast, Aaron Ford has campaigned alongside Newsom. When it comes to lowering future gasoline expenses for Nevadans, Lombardo’s strategy offers greater promise than Ford’s.