California Gov. Gavin Newsom swung through Fresno on Thursday to tout his new economic plan geared at boosting fast job growth.
But in his first post-election press conference, Newsom said he is proud of the work of the California Air Resources Board (CARB), which recently voted on new fuel standards that are projected to increase gas prices by up to $0.65 per gallon next year.
Driving the news: Last year, CARB estimated that the new standards would increase gas prices by $0.47 per gallon. A study from the University of Pennsylvania put the increase at $0.65, which would come as pass-through costs to consumers.
- A recent study from USC said the total impact of the new standards and other factors, including Newsom’s oil mandate, could result in gas prices rising by $0.90 per gallon next year.
What they’re saying: When asked about CARB vote, Newsom deflected his answer and instead went after the oil and gas industry.
- “You have been fleeced by the oil companies,” Newsom said. “You have been screwed for decades and decades by the oil companies.”
- The governor also said it is “a point of pride” that the rest of the country looks at California’s leadership on fuel standards, referencing CARB’s work.
In other news: Newsom came to Fresno to celebrate his new California JObs First Economic Blueprint, which focuses on streamlining the economic, business and workforce development programs to create more jobs at a faster pace.
- The full blueprint will be released early next year and comes with $120 million in competitive funding to support ready-to-go job-creating projects.
- Newsom also said that California will no longer leave any region behind, with the focus of the new blueprint to ensure that all parts of the state – not just the Bay Area and Southern California – see job improvements.
- “Each region of California has its own strengths – we’re helping build out each local economy with a bottom-up approach that’ll connect more good-paying jobs with California families,” Newsom said. “From agriculture to clean energy to manufacturing and everything in between, these blueprints will foster growth and expansion throughout every community of California.”
