Overview

• More than 40 environmental groups sent a letter accusing Gavin Newsom of backsliding, citing the state’s search for a buyer for Valero’s Benicia refinery and reports of potential public support exceeding $100 million.
• Newsom’s office touted progress by saying California reached 67% clean electricity and that the state ran on 100% clean power for part of the day on most days this year.
• Energy policy critics challenged those claims, pointing to California’s high retail electricity prices — roughly 24.87 cents per kWh in 2023 versus a 12.68-cent U.S. average — and warning about reliability risks.
• The governor’s office countered that Californians will receive average $61 bill refunds in October, projected long-term electricity savings up to $60 billion through 2045, and noted there have been no rotating outages since 2020.
• CalMatters reported that planned refinery closures, including Benicia’s slated 2026 shutdown, could constrict fuel supplies for California as well as Nevada and Arizona, intensifying debates over costs and energy security.