Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones has requested an independent audit of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) concerning its significant changes to the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). This regulation is projected to increase gasoline prices by up to 65 cents per gallon starting July 1. In conjunction with the audit request, Jones has also initiated a statewide Change.org petition urging Governor Gavin Newsom to repeal the regulation and provide immediate relief to California consumers.
Jones criticized the Newsom administration for its lack of transparency and claimed that the audit is necessary to unveil any hidden costs associated with the LCFS. His concerns stem from a Public Records Act request submitted on May 21, which sought various communications and economic projections related to the LCFS. After 28 days without a response, Jones deemed the audit essential for accountability regarding the true costs of climate regulations.
In his letter to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, Jones highlighted conflicting statements from CARB officials regarding the LCFS’s impact on prices, noting that the agency had retracted its own cost estimates. The audit will assess whether CARB employs sound economic methodologies, adheres to legal transparency standards, and balances economic and environmental concerns adequately.
The upcoming hearing in August will determine whether the Joint Legislative Audit Committee will approve Jones’s request, allowing the State Auditor to investigate CARB’s files and interview its staff.
Jones’s efforts to repeal the LCFS regulation have faced opposition, with Senate Democrats voting against his initiatives. The situation is exacerbated by an upcoming increase in California’s gas excise tax, set to rise to 61.2 cents per gallon on the same day the LCFS regulations take effect, further burdening consumers already facing high living costs.
Experts, such as USC Professor Michael Mische, warn that California’s gas prices could rise significantly, potentially reaching $8.43 per gallon by 2026, due to regulatory pressures and refinery shutdowns. Jones has been vocal against these increases and has attempted to introduce legislation to repeal the LCFS, which has been blocked by Senate Democrats.
Senator Brian W. Jones represents California’s 40th Senate District, encompassing several cities and communities in the San Diego area.
