The more-expensive summer blend of gas is being suspended for the remainder of the season as Gavin Newsom takes an empty, tardy action he claims will impact high gas prices. The summer blend is due to end on November 1st, so Newsom ending it only a month early is perfectly Gavin. It should be noted that President trump gave a waiver to end the summer blend early, in August.
This action is barely going to noticeably impact the price at the pump—as it would have if Newsom had suspended the 63.4 cents a gallon (that rose in July!). Even the California Energy Commission said in August, “At this time, the CEC doesn’t believe that suspending the summer blend would offer a meaningful supply boost.” As for prices, the SF Chronicle says the seasonal change is usually about 10 cents a gallon and could be as little as 2 cents a gallon this year.
Regardless, it is not likely this change is going to make your house payment or even buy a gallon of gas. But you can bet it will be Newsom preening, claiming he has done something to make California more affordable. Why didn’t the governor take action sooner? Maybe that’s why they call it ‘gas-lighting’?
