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Why is fuel in California so much more expensive than anywhere else in the U.S.? In this episode, Jason sits down with Lauren Roberts—an industry veteran and ROC’s Director of Marketing—to unpack the policies, shutdowns, and market distortions that have turned California into a true fuel island.

From refinery closures and restricted supply chains to the rising costs of cap-and-trade and the CARB regime, this conversation breaks down the hidden mechanics behind fuel pricing, renewable mandates, and the shrinking middle ground in energy policy. If you’ve ever wondered why oil execs are leaving, or how a refinery can be too expensive to run in a fuel-hungry state, this episode explains it all.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• What CARB is and how its rules affect California’s fuel supply
• Why you can’t truck or pipe fuel from other states into California
• Breakdown of California’s total fuel tax burden
• How refinery closures are shrinking in-state supply
• Why California’s fuel specs isolate it from national supply
• What the LCFS and Cap-and-Trade programs really cost
• How 45Z is disrupting the renewable market and feedstock access
• Why domestic-only sourcing is impacting clean fuel development
• The federal Credit Card Competition Act and why retailers care
• What the High Blends Infrastructure Program could mean for new stations

BEST MOMENTS

00:05:25. “Between those two refineries, that’s approximately 20% of the refining capacity in California.”
00:09:14. “You want to support California and you’re only an hour across the border? You can’t truck in fuel because it’s a different formulation.”
00:12:18. “Safe to say that well north of a dollar a gallon is basically taxes created by California.”
00:17:10. “A professor in California benchmarked it at $8 per gallon unless something changes.”
00:23:34. “EVs are great, but they’re not saving the world. Most power still comes from natural gas or coal.”
00:30:55. “45Z came online at the beginning of this year, and it kind of threw the market into a frenzy.”
00:36:42. “Now you’re pricing the subsidies differently for two different categories.”
00:44:10. “Credit card fees are the second biggest line item after labor.”
00:49:20. “California was the last state to approve E15. Finally, it’s allowed year-round.”

Thank you for listening to Jobbers: American Energy, the podcast that captures the real, unscripted stories of the people powering America’s fuel and energy industries. Every month, we go beyond the headlines to share the grit, leadership, and legacy of the workers who keep this country running.

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🛢️ Jobbers: American Energy is hosted by Jason Case, the CEO of ROC, a third-generation family-run wholesale energy distribution company. Learn more about Jason and the work behind the show at www.jobberspodcast.com/about.

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