Extraordinary map shows how California’s extreme gas prices compare to rest of the US

A map of gas prices nationwide shows the extreme gap between California and the rest of the US as the cost of fuel continues to batter drivers.

The average price of a gallon of regular gas in the Golden State stood at a whopping $5.70 on Saturday — about 5 cents above Friday’s average and more than a dollar higher than a month ago, according to the American Automobile Association.

The spike followed steady increases over since the start of the war in Iran.

Before the US-Israeli strikes in Iran sent shockwaves through global oil markets, the average cost per gallon in California sat at $4.642 — still well above the national average of $2.982.

According to a map from GasBuddy, a crowd-sourced site for motorists to find cheap gas stations, the state stands in stark contrast to the rest of the country, except parts of Washington where a gallon of gas is above $5 on average.

The map shows parts of the country with the costs below $3 per gallon.

The situation in California is made worse by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s green agenda, which risks sending the price of gallon above $8 per gallon, lawmakers and experts have warned.

Drivers in the Golden State pay a “California premium” that includes higher-than-average state excise and sales taxes, as well hefty fees for climate programs unique to the state.

California also requires a special and more costly fuel blend designed to prevent smog, which only the state’s refineries and specific Asian countries can produce.

OIl giant Chevron warned in a doomsday letter to Newsom earlier this month that California will face economic collapse under Newsom’s “misguided” climate policies.

A top Chevron executive also cautioned that California’s green initiatives could wipe out the state’s oil business entirely.

Over the last few years, several major oil refineries in California have closed or begun the process of closing. As these refineries have wound down operations, gas prices in California have already increased.

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