California in a unique scrape as gas prices rise nationwide
FRESNO, Calif. — As the conflict in Iran continues, the entire country is feeling the impact on the global oil market. In California, drivers are now dealing with geopolitics on top of a very unique set of regulations and tax structure, making the sticker price at the pump even more shocking for Fresno State students counting every penny.
“It does affect every student,” Genesis Gullien said. Gullien is a commuter student majoring in psychology, “As you can see, the parking lot, there’s tons of cars and I’m sure a lot of students commute from several places.”
“It does affect every student,” said Genesis Gullien, a commuter student majoring in psychology. “As you can see, the parking lot, there’s tons of cars and I’m sure a lot of students commute from several places.”
Last year, 94% of students lived off campus, commuting to class daily. However, students still have to make it campus despite the rising travel costs.
According to AAA, gas prices jumped past an average of four dollars for the first time since 2022, a dollar more than when the war began.
Doug Johnson, an AAA communications lead, says that although the global conflict is driving the price hike, there are many factors in play affecting California’s rising prices.
“We’re switching from that cheaper winter blend to the more expensive summer blend,” Johnson said. “They also gotta keep in mind those refineries are closing. So this could be the new normal for California, but it all depends on how long the conflict lasts for.”
However, there are many steps drivers can take to help boost their fuel economy.
AAA recommends obeying the speed limit, checking your tire pressure, removing excess weight from your trunk and using navigation apps to cluster your errands and avoid sitting in rush hour traffic. These all have direct effects on a car’s fuel economy.
Apps like GasBuddy and the AAA app track prices nationally and locally, allowing users to find the cheapest gas prices in their area. Johnson says this is especially useful when travel trends rise during the summer months.
“Pay attention to what gas prices are, not only where you live and where you’re going, but also where you’re traveling through,” Johnson said.
Though tools like these help drivers find the best prices, they can’t lower the base price at the pump.
California is paying the most for fill-ups across the nation, because of unique regulatory issues.
The state’s gas tax is over 60 cents per gallon, built directly into the price at the pump. This means drivers are paying the tax on every gallon of gas they get.
And although some offshore oil drilling has resumed off the Santa Barbara coast, California still relies heavily on imported crude, so local output from a single pipeline won’t ease gas prices.