Interior secretary warns on California energy reliance
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told Fox News Digital that California’s reliance on foreign oil poses a national security risk and cited declining in‑state refining capacity, while DOE’s Ben Dietderich presented new department data showing average residential electricity prices around $0.18/kWh in blue states versus $0.11 in red states. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, speaking Tuesday in Monroe County, Pa., linked higher costs to restrictive policies and noted a recent ANWR tour as the administration moves to expand U.S. resource development.
📌 Key Facts
- DOE Office of Policy data: blue states average ~$0.18/kWh vs red states ~$0.11/kWh; national average ~$0.13/kWh
- DOE: average price increases since 2021—blue states +4.0 cents/kWh (~$320/year/household) vs red states +1.5 cents/kWh (~$175/year)
- Burgum claims California imports 60%+ of its oil, with refineries down to nine and more closing or relocating; cites prior New England imports of Russian gas amid pipeline limits
📊 Relevant Data
In 2024, 63.5% of California's crude oil supply was imported from foreign sources, primarily Iraq (21.26%), Brazil (20.41%), Guyana (15.80%), and Ecuador (13.60%).
Annual Oil Supply Sources to California Refineries — California Energy Commission
Refinery closures in California, such as the planned closure of Phillips 66's Wilmington refinery by the end of 2025, are driven by uncertainty in long-term sustainability, weak refinery margins, compliance costs from California's Cap-and-Trade program and Low Carbon Fuel Standard, higher crude oil acquisition costs, and reduced demand for petroleum-based fuels.
California law and refinery closure reflect ongoing challenges for the state’s fuel market — U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
In 2023, poverty rates in California varied by race/ethnicity: 21% for Latinos (40.7% of population), 17.5% for Blacks (5% of population), 15.6% for Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders (17.4% of population), and 12.8% for Whites (33.1% of population).
Poverty in California — Public Policy Institute of California
📊 Analysis & Commentary (1)
"A pro‑Trump opinion piece arguing that the federal government should invoke preemption/Commerce Clause authority to override state and local permitting barriers so the U.S. can ramp up energy production, lower prices, and achieve 'energy dominance,' responding to recent commentary from Interior and Energy officials about U.S. energy policy."