Newsom tells drivers avoid Chevron

California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office told drivers on Thursday to avoid Chevron stations over the Memorial Day weekend, opening a public fight with one of the state’s biggest fuel brands as pump prices stayed above $6 a gallon. The post from the governor’s press office said motorists could buy unbranded gasoline instead and still get fuel that meets California standards. Chevron has been running signs at some stations blaming Sacramento policies for the state’s high prices. The clash comes as lawmakers in Sacramento are also advancing a separate proposal to make E85 conversion kits easier to use in California. ### What exactly did Newsom’s office tell drivers? Newsom’s press office wrote on X on May 21 that Californians heading out for the holiday should “AVOID Chevron” and said unbranded gas comes from the same refineries, storage tanks and pipelines while meeting the same state standards to keep engines clean. The Associated Press reported the message as part of a widening dispute between Newsom and Chevron over who is responsible for California’s fuel costs. The governor’s office framed the issue as consumers paying extra for a brand name at a time of unusually high prices. ### Why is Chevron in Newsom’s sights? Chevron stations in places including Alameda were displaying signs on Thursday blaming “Sacramento policies” for high gas prices, according to AP photographs and local reports. (apnews.com) That put the company’s argument directly in front of drivers before a major travel weekend. Ross Allen, a Chevron spokesperson, said the company was aware of the governor’s post, according to reports cited in search results tied to the dispute. (apnews.com) Chevron’s broader public position has been that California policy — not company pricing alone — is a major reason fuel costs are higher in the state than elsewhere. ### How high are California gas prices right now? AAA listed California’s average price for regular gasoline at $6.131 a gallon on May 22, compared with a national average of $4.552. (usnews.com) AAA’s California page also showed the state average at $6.143 a day earlier and $5.829 a month earlier. Those figures help explain why the argument has become politically visible before Memorial Day, when driving demand typically rises. California remained the only state with an average above $6 earlier this month, according to other reports citing AAA data. (yahoo.com) ### What does E85 have to do with this fight? CalMatters reported that California lawmakers are advancing a bill to expand access to federally approved E85 conversion kits, which would allow more gasoline vehicles to run on the mostly ethanol-based fuel. (gasprices.aaa.com) The measure is Assembly Bill 2046, introduced by Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom, a Democrat from Stockton. The bill is aimed at removing a California barrier that has kept those kits effectively off-limits even when they have federal approval. (gasprices.aaa.com) Supporters say E85 can be cheaper per gallon than regular gasoline, though savings depend on vehicle compatibility, fuel availability and mileage differences. ### Is Sacramento treating this as a company fight or a policy problem? Sacramento is doing both. (calmatters.org) Newsom’s office is publicly pressuring Chevron over retail pricing and branding, while lawmakers are separately looking at a fuel-substitution bill as a cost-relief option for drivers. The next concrete step is legislative. Assembly Bill 2046 remains in the California legislative process, where Ransom and other lawmakers will have to move it through additional committees and votes before it could reach Newsom’s desk. (calmatters.org) (apnews.com)