California’s Energy Crisis: Refinery Closures and Rising Oil Imports

Energy News Beat Podcast

California’s Energy Crisis: Refinery Closures and Rising Oil Imports

May 07, 2025

In this episode of Energy Newsbeat – Conversations in Energy, host Stuart Turley and Ronald Stein discuss California's energy crisis, focusing on the state's declining oil production and refining capacity. They highlight how California's reliance on imported oil has grown to over 60%, creating a national security risk. Stein criticizes Governor Newsom's push to phase out fossil fuels without addressing the ongoing demand, and they explore how this policy impacts the state’s energy future. They also touch on global shifts in energy production, including China’s growing refinery capacity and the complexities of California's regulatory environment.

Ronald is a great friend to the Energy News Beat podcast and a great resource. Please follow his energy discussions here: https://www.americaoutloud.news/author/ronald-stein-p-e/

"California is a national security risk" is a fantastic point that Ronald made, and it prompted us to record a follow-up with Mike Umbro, which is coming out of production in a few days. Having Mike Umbro and Ronald on the same podcast for a discussion on California energy is great!

Highlights of the Podcast

00:00 - Intro

01:21 - Decline of California’s refining capacity

02:33 - California’s energy security risks

03:24 - Rising dependence on imported oil

04:36 - China’s role in refinery development

05:28 - Challenges with California's fuel blend

06:00 - Impact of tariffs on energy

07:04 - Challenges of U.S. energy manufacturing

07:17 - Importance of energy supply-demand balance

09:06 - National security implications of California’s energy issues

10:36 - Politics of Governor Newsom’s energy policies