Letter: California is a bad neighbor

In regard to Jim Hartman’s commentary targeting California as a “bad neighbor” and how they manage their fossil fuel oil which negatively impacts adjacent states like Nevada, he’s not wrong. Here’s a summary of the points I feel are most important:

• California attempted to punish Big Oil which would result in higher gas prices in Nevada.

• Nevada’s Gov. Joe Lombardo’s defense was to send California Gov. Gavin Newsom a letter warning how California’s actions will increase gas prices in Nevada. (In other words, Nevada is at the will of California’s demands)

• A special California legislative session was called to give California the power to veto gas refinery plans and stockpile gas within California, preventing it from being sold to Nevada.

• California refineries supply nearly 90% of Nevada’s gasoline.

• In 1984, California had 34 refineries and today just 14.

Nevada’s gasoline prices ($3.95) are higher than the national average of $3.21, partly due to California taxes and special regulation.

So, I ask the Governor’s Office of Energy to read the list above, and tell Lombardo the only defense against increasing oil costs is to quickly transition to all renewable energy. Nevada has an abundance of solar, wind, and geothermal, and why not include the new safe nuclear in the state’s energy portfolio? Lombardo needs to move aggressively into renewable energy instead of the fossil fuel direction he’s in now.

All Nevadans should consider electric vehicles. I know my next vehicle will be electric. This will remove Nevadans from paying higher gas prices now and in the future.

Roger Heath

Carson City