U.S. Oil & Gas Association President Slams California’s ‘Self-Inflicted’ Energy Crisis as Prices Soar

In a recent interview, Tim Stewart, president of the U.S. Oil & Gas Association, pushed back against claims that the state’s ongoing fuel crisis stems from mere misfortune or global events. He described it as the predictable outcome of decades of restrictive energy policies.

“This is not bad luck but by design,” Stewart said. “It has been decades of blocking interstate production and killing pipelines, imposing California refining standards on refiners, then pushing them to close.”

Stewart called the situation a “self-inflicted crisis” that now threatens the state’s more than $4.25 trillion economy and dozens of U.S. military installations. He noted that his organization has sounded the alarm on these vulnerabilities for well over a year.

The comments come amid heightened global oil market tensions linked to the Iran conflict. Stewart referenced earlier discussions, including meetings involving U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and industry leaders such as those from Occidental Petroleum, where California’s regulatory barriers to domestic resource development were highlighted well before the latest price spikes.

Stewart was blunt in his criticism of Governor Gavin Newsom and state policymakers, accusing them of placing political priorities ahead of California families and workers.

“The politicians, Gavin Newsom and his ilk, knew what they were doing,” Stewart said. “And they didn’t care. They have impoverished working Californians; they only care about political gain.”

He drew comparisons to broader federal energy challenges in recent years, invoking the term “energy poverty” to describe the burden on moderate- and low-income households forced to choose between fuel for commuting and basic necessities.

“California’s one-party system has done this. This is by design,” he stated. “That green dream has essentially turned into a really expensive nightmare. But the expenses are borne by people who can least afford to bear it. It didn’t have to be this way.”

Stewart stressed that California sits on significant onshore and offshore energy resources that could be developed responsibly. Instead, he argued, state leaders continue to impose barriers that limit production and refining capacity while increasing reliance on out-of-state and foreign supplies.

“California may be the number one producer of energy poverty, and it is an absolute shame,” was the conclusion.