Gov. Gavin Newsom is asking the California Air Resources Board to let gas stations begin selling cheaper winter-blend gasoline before California's summer-blend deadline ends, according to KTLA.
The move aims to ease some of the nation's highest fuel prices while loosening cleaner fuel rules meant to limit smog. For drivers already paying some of the highest fuel prices in the country, even a modest drop at the pump could make a difference.
Here's what to know
Using a state law that lets California temporarily pause its tougher summer fuel standards during price spikes, Newsom asked CARB to allow early sales of winter-blend gasoline.
AAA put California's average regular price at $6.365, less than 10 cents below the $6.4375 record set in June 2022.
In most of California, those rules keep the cleaner but more expensive summer blend in use until Oct. 31.
Producing summer blend costs roughly 15 cents a gallon more than winter blend, according to the National Association of Convenience Stores. That extra cost reflects a formula designed to evaporate less and help reduce emissions and smog.
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In his letter, Newsom acknowledged that the seasonal fuel standards matter for California's air quality, but he described the request as an "extraordinary response to extraordinary prices."
More background
Even after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ended the federal summer-blend requirement in mid-August, ahead of the national Sept. 1 cutoff, California left its stricter cleaner-fuel rules in place.
California's standards are higher than federal ones.
Nationwide, gas prices average $4.4768 per gallon, well below California's statewide average.
California has kept those cleaner fuel rules in place even as households face unusually high fuel costs.
An earlier switch could lower commuting and other driving costs.
It would also temporarily pull back from a rule meant to curb pollution in Southern California and the Central Valley.
What's being done?
The governor wants the California Air Resources Board to authorize an earlier statewide rollout of cheaper winter fuel.
It would apply statewide, including the 14 counties in Southern California and the Central Valley.
If regulators approve the request, the move could give Californians some short-term relief at the pump before the usual Oct. 31 transition. The board's decision could affect prices before the normal seasonal switch.
In a news release, Newsom attributed soaring costs to President Donald Trump's war with Iran.
"California will keep doing what we can to bring costs down and protect consumers — but states cannot indefinitely insulate families from a global oil shock. Trump must end his war," he stated.
Where can I learn more?
For more on what's driving California gas prices, these stories look at the fuel policies, market pressures, and oil politics behind them. They cover the supply squeeze pushing prices higher and how drivers and states are responding.
• In California, gas priced over $6 a gallon underscored how global fuel pressures hit drivers.
• As gas neared $4.50, 56,000 U.S. households switched to hybrids and EVs.
• Federal regulators eliminated a massive credit for widespread start-stop technology, raising concerns about fuel costs.
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