California Energy Facts

California Oil Production

  • California oil and gas production meets the strictest environmental regulations in the world.
    Source: Institute for Applied Economics, LAEDC Oil and Gas Industry in California 2019 Report
  • California oil and gas production is overseen by over 25 federal, state and local agencies. More Info
    Source: Institute for Applied Economics, LAEDC Oil and GasIndustry in California 2019 Report
  • California's local oil production supports 50,000 jobs throughout the state, mostly in the Central Valley. More Info
    Sources:
    Economic and Revenue Impacts of a Statewide Oil Production Ban in California, December 2018, Capitol Matrix Consulting
    Updated data: Economic Impacts of Oil Production Tied to Well Stimulation Treatments in California, January 2021, Capitol Matrix Consulting
  • California oil and gas production provides our state with $1.5 billion dollars in tax revenue to fund schools, social services, and public safety every year. More Info
    • 54 cents of every dollar from California's oil and gas property taxes go to public schools
      Source: Methodology and assumptions: Economic and Revenue Impacts of a Statewide Oil Production Ban in California, December 2018, Capitol Matrix Source: CA Board of Equalization 2020-2021 Annual Report
  • In the last four years, California's local oil and gas production has shut down by 22%, primarily due to California's energy policies. But, decreasing California's local production does not decrease our consumption, just where our oil comes from.

    California oil production by quarter, 2018-2022
    Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration CA Production of Crude Oil

Foreign Oil

  • California now imports 75% of the oil we use, mostly from foreign countries.
  • California spends $25 Billion dollars each year importing oil to meet our energy needs.
    Source: Foreign Sources of Crude Oil Imports to California, California Energy Commission, April 2022
  • California’s energy supply is more vulnerable to geopolitical conflicts because of our state’s heavy reliance on imports from foreign countries, many of which are unstable, for our energy.


    Source: Foreign Sources of Crude Oil Imports to California, California Energy Commission, April 2022

Gas Prices

  • California is an "energy island" - extremely limited in its ability to import oil from other places in the continental US. More Info
    Sources: “West Coast Transportation Fuel Markets,” U.S. Energy Information Administration, September 2015
  • California has the highest tax and environmental fees on gasoline in the country.

    CA Average Tax and Fees per Gallon of Gasoline:

    $1.20

    Other State Average Tax and Fees per Gallon of Gasoline:

    $0.34
    Source: Federation of Tax Administrators* National Number Tax and Fee Administration California Number
    Calculations based on data from the California Resources Board
  • California consistently has the highest gas prices in the country.

    CA Average:

    $4.46

    National Average:

    $3.43
    Source: AAA
  • Increasing our dependence on foreign oil only makes gas prices higher.
    Source: Capitol Matrix Consulting “Impact of a Statewide Oil Production Ban on Downstream Petroleum Markets” Prepared for WSPA. August 2019