Neighboring states—primarily Arizona and Nevada—are not positioned to compensate for California’s fuel shortages. In fact, these states are themselves heavily dependent on California’s refineries for their own gasoline and diesel supplies.

Valero Energy Corporation has announced plans to cease, idle, or restructure operations at its Benicia refinery by April 2026, following Phillips 66's earlier announcement to shut down its Los Angeles facility by October 2025. These closures represent significant shifts in California's refining capacity and will have far-reaching implications for the state's fuel supply, economy, and local communities.