California Lawmakers Urge Newsom To Increase Oil Production As Ukraine War Pushes Gas Prices To Record Highs

By CBSLA Staff, CBS Los Angeles:

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — A bipartisan coalition of California lawmakers are calling on Gov. Gavin Newsom to increase oil production in the state as the war in Ukraine sends gas prices soaring.

Assemblyman Vince Fong of Bakersfield says the state of California imports 75% of its oil supplies from foreign nations – and 6% comes from Russia.

“The state’s reliance on foreign oil has only grown because of state and federal policies that have severely limited the production of affordable energy within California,” a letter to Newsom signed by 23 lawmakers read. “With the conflict in Ukraine, there is going to be increased demand on volatile energy supplies – making California more vulnerable to price swings.”

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