California’s Republican House Delegation has issued a statement criticizing Governor Gavin Newsom’s energy policies, citing concerns over rising costs for residents and businesses as well as potential impacts on national security.
“California families and small businesses are getting crushed every day by the high cost of energy in California that is a direct result of the radical policies put in place by Governor Gavin Newsom. The high cost of electricity and gasoline has resulted in higher energy expenses as well as inflated costs for goods and services throughout the economy,” the delegation said.
The group also highlighted concerns about military readiness, noting, “Households and job creators aren’t the only ones feeling the pain from these high energy costs and the shortage behind them. California is home to the highest number of active-duty personnel and major military bases. The Governor’s war on energy in California is threatening our national security and is of significant concern as we increasingly shift our focus to confront potential threats in the Pacific.”
They concluded with a call for policy reversal: “For the sake of California families, small businesses, and our military, our delegation is calling on Gov. Newsom to reverse his devastating energy policies that are severely raising costs.”
Recent data shows that electricity rates for both residential and commercial customers in California are now the highest among all states except Alaska and Hawaii. Over the past three years, ratepayers have seen substantial increases—41% for PG&E customers and 24% for SCE customers—with SCE recently announcing another 13% hike effective this October. Gasoline prices have also surged; at $4.59 per gallon statewide, they are currently the nation’s highest.
In addition to rising consumer costs, refinery closures may further impact supply. The Phillips 66 refinery in Wilmington processed its last shipment of crude oil in September before shutting down operations. Valero Energy plans to end refining at its Benicia facility by April 2026. These closures will reduce California’s oil refining capacity by 17%.
Ken Calvert has served as U.S. Representative for California’s 41st District since 1993. He was born in Corona, California in 1953, where he continues to reside at age 69. Calvert graduated from San Diego State University with a BA degree in 1975.
