(The Center Square) – Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs is not mulling a lawsuit against the state of California over gasoline regulations that could potentially drive fuel prices up in Arizona and Nevada next year.
“Not at this point. I mean, we’ll consider every option that makes sure that gas prices stay lower for Arizonans. But we haven’t talked about legal action,” the Democratic governor said during a media availability on Monday morning.
The new regulations from the California Air Resources Board that impact refineries are expected to have a trickle down effect to consumers, including other states that get their gasoline from the Golden State, according to KCRA. Prices in California could see a 47-cent uptick or more depending on fuel grade, but it’s unclear what that will translate to in the Grand Canyon State, as EPA regulations require that fuel for the Valley comes from California.
The Center Square reported that the changes are part of the Low Carbon Fuel Standard effort meant to significantly cut the state’s emissions and promote alternative fuel sources for transportation.
In addition, Hobbs and Republican Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo wrote to Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom in September asking not to sign onto legislation that would require “mandating refinery inventory” with Senate Bill 950, which ended up not pulling through, as well as raising concerns about the other regulations coming from the state.
“It is evident that increased regulatory burdens on refiners and forced supply shortages will result in higher costs for consumers in all of our states,” the governors wrote at the time, The Center Square reported. “With both of our states reliant on California pipelines for significant amounts of our fuel, these looming cost increases and supply shortages are of tremendous concern to Arizona and Nevada.”
The Center Square reached out to Lombardo’s office to ask if they are considering suing, but they did not respond in time for publication.