Nevada gas prices surge as California refinery cuts fuel supply
Nevada drivers face near-$5-a-gallon gasoline, a spike linked to California’s shrinking refinery capacity rather than Middle-East tensions.
Nevada’s gasoline price on Labor Day approached $5 per gallon, eclipsing the prior record of $3.82 set in 2012, according to AAA data. While Democratic candidate Aaron Ford attributed the surge to the ongoing Iran war, he offered no plan for Nevada to influence foreign policy. Analysts note that the real driver is California’s deliberate reduction of refinery capacity, driven by the state’s net-zero carbon goals, which have left only six major refineries operating.
With roughly 88 % of Nevada’s fuel sourced from California, the closures have pushed local prices above those in Texas, where gas remains near $3.70. Governor Joe Lombardo has publicly challenged California’s approach and created the Nevada Fuel Resiliency Committee, which is evaluating options like the Western Gateway Pipeline to lessen dependence on California supplies.
