Overview
- On July 1, California will increase its gas excise tax by 1.6 cents to 61.2 cents per gallon and raise diesel taxes to 46.6 cents.
- Amendments to the Low Carbon Fuel Standard approved in late 2024 will impose stricter carbon intensity limits on fuels, adding as much as 65 cents per gallon in compliance costs.
- Analysts estimate that the combined measures could lift pump prices by nearly 70 cents per gallon, driving averages close to or above $6 by the end of this year.
- A University of Southern California study forecasts that prices could reach $8.40 per gallon in 2026 if refining capacity continues to decline.
- Recent refinery closures and maintenance disruptions have reduced California’s in-state processing capacity by more than 25 percent, increasing reliance on external fuel supplies.