Mono County, California has the highest gas prices – Business News
A sleepy county in rural California has the highest gas prices in the nation – and on high of the Iran battle, motorists can thank the state’s stiff taxes and laws, specialists advised The Post.
Service stations in Mono County – a distant enclave on the Nevada border simply west of Yosemite National Park – had been promoting gasoline at an eye-watering average of $6.76 per gallon as of Wednesday, based on AAA.
That’s versus the statewide average of $5.93 a gallon, which is already the highest in the nation.
The national average stood at $4.16 as of Wednesday, based on AAA.The state has been pressured to rely more on imported gas since two refineries shut down at the finish of final yr.
Gasoline prices in Mono County – a distant enclave simply west of Yosemite National Park – hit an average of $6.76 per gallon as of Wednesday, based on AAA. Noah Berger for California Post
California residents already face the steepest state gasoline tax in the US – 71 cents per gallon.
On high of that, California’s Clean Air Act restricts the quantity of ethanol allowed in gasoline during the summer season.
A law that appears to scale back evaporative emissions to make the air cleaner however is more costly to refine.
“California is currently switching out its gasoline to a summer blend, which has to lower emissions and is meant to optimize around burning gas efficiently,” stated Joe Adamski, an oil provide chain skilled.
Meanwhile, delivering gas to the 13,000 Mono County residents has turn out to be more and more costly, petroleum analyst Patrick De Haan advised The Post.
It is a small, rural, and remoted county sitting between two of western America’s hottest vacationer points of interest – Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park — which has stored demand high.
Lake Tahoe noticed a 7% increase in resort rooms reserved this January when in comparison with the similar month final yr, based on Lake Tahoe’s Visitors Authority.
“Nobody is looking up gas prices before traveling to these places,” De Haan stated.
Last yr, California imported more than 75% of its crude oil, based on the California Energy Commission.
One third of that comes from the Middle East, the place battle has been raging.
California residents face the steepest state gasoline tax in the US at 71 cents per gallon.
To make issues worse, carbon cap-and-trade applications and low carbon-fuel requirements have elevated the price of refining gasoline throughout the Golden State.
“The cost of doing business in California is high,” De Haan, added.
As negotiations to completely reopen the Strait of Hormuz stall, power prices stay high.
Gas prices have been at their highest since 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine.
Brent crude was $96.77 per barrel as of Wednesday, a 9.8% increase since the Feb. 28 begin of the US-Israeli battle with Iran.
West Texas Intermediate crude jumped about 9% to $97.15 in that very same time body.
President Trump introduced a two-week ceasefire with Iran on Tuesday, however specialists voiced warning about the potential affect on fuel prices.
“I’d expect the national average to stay above $4 per gallon through the summer,” Adamski stated.
