You may not have guessed it, but Washington State has imitated California’s anti-CO2 rules so well that it has become America’s new home of the highest fuel prices while making its residents poorer. Imitation is the purest form of flattery, but in the case of California, it’s also the fastest way to diminish citizens’ standard of living. The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board reports on Washington’s dubious honor, writing:
Congratulations, of the dubious sort, to Washington state. The folks in Olympia have dethroned California to claim the distinction of the country’s highest gasoline prices. Credit goes to their cap-and-trade program and “clean fuel standard,” both of which took effect this year. California pioneered these policies more than a decade ago, and Washington wants to catch up.
Both programs require fuel suppliers to reduce CO2 emissions or buy credits from other more “sustainable” businesses such as owners of electric-vehicle charging stations. Refiners can also buy cap-and-trade credits at state auctions with the proceeds funding green subsidies. These policies add about 40 to 50 cents to the price of each gallon of gas in California.
That isn’t enough for the climate lobby, and Washington state regulators have heeded green complaints and made it even tougher for fuel suppliers by raising the costs of compliance. Washington Policy Center’s Todd Myers estimates that cap-and-trade adds 45 cents a gallon to price of gas—about twice as much as California’s program.
Gas prices in Washington have shot up $1.18 since the start of the year—Florida’s have remained flat—and are now averaging $4.97 a gallon compared to a national average of $3.49. The climate policies are intended to punish fossil-fuel consumption, but they punish lower- and middle-income folks who spend more of their income on fuel.
Action Line: Politicians in Olympia and Sacramento are putting their own desires ahead of those of residents. Taxpayers are putting in the money, and friends of the politicians get all the rewards. You invest, they win. It’s hard to survive in a place where politicians treat you more like a piggy bank than a valued resident. You need to escape states like California and Washington and instead look for a better America in one of Your Survival Guy’s 2023 Super States. Become a Survivor today by subscribing to my free monthly Survive & Thrive letter.
