Translating CARB’s Bureaucrat-ese

We’ve got good news and bad news. 

First, the good: After four months, lawmakers finally received a response from air regulators to their questions about the cost to drivers of Newsom’s climate mandates. 

The bad news: The response, large portions of which were pulled directly from a December 2023 regulatory document, provided no additional information on how much more drivers can expect to pay under the Governor’s mandates.

“Newsom’s team has had months to come up with a number, but they still won’t level with Californians about how much these programs will cost,” said Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher (Yuba City). “It’s not a coincidence that gas prices keep rising as the state piles on the mandates. Since Newsom and his allies in the Legislature have no interest in backing off these regulations, Californians should brace for even higher costs at the pump.”

To save you from having to read through the entire letter, here are some notable excerpts translated from bureaucratic jargon into English:

• CARB: “The California Energy Commission’s (CEC) data have shown the cost of crude oil and costs associated with refining, distribution and marketing were the main drivers of the rising costs of gasoline prices and together have contributed 82% to the increase since 2019 when compared to retail prices in 2023.”

ENGLISH: “Gas prices have jumped under Gavin Newsom – 82% of the increase is attributable to the cost of producing fuel (not price gouging) and we’re just going to ignore the remaining 18% that’s likely a result of these regulations.”

• CARB: “As the LCFS and Cap-and-Trade incentivize further development of alternative fuels and enable Californians to transition away from fossil fuels and move toward both energy efficient zero emissions vehicles (ZEV) and lower-carbon fuel alternatives, CARB staff estimates that the fuel costs Californians pay to travel will decrease…”

ENGLISH: “Our mandates will increase gas costs as a way to push people into EVs. When they don’t buy gas anymore, they will spend less money on it. Bummer if you can’t afford a Tesla.”

• CARB: “​​Clean fuels will increase as the program becomes more stringent and a stronger market signal is supported…”

ENGLISH: “We are going to drive gas prices through the roof but describe it as “a stronger market signal” so normal people don’t realize what we’re planning.”

• CARB: “CARB is carefully considering how to balance achieving the statutory direction for needed reductions in GHG emissions and mitigating potential costs to Californians while ensuring the long-term total transformation of the State to a zero-carbon economy…”

ENGLISH: “There is a tradeoff between climate programs and gas costs – and California is going zero-carbon, so get ready to pay up.”

• CARB: “CARB acknowledges that fossil fuel producers do incur costs through both LCFS and the Cap-and-Trade Program…”

ENGLISH: No need to translate this one.

• CARB: “Renewable diesel and ethanol currently provide lower-cost alternatives to petroleum diesel and gasoline…”

ENGLISH: “Ethanol could allow drivers to save at the pump, but unlike in 49 other states, California drivers can’t buy E-15 at the pump. Suckers.”

BOTTOM LINE: California’s mandates drive up costs for drivers and the Newsom administration refuses to come clean about the scale of the problem.

And if he gets his way during his special session, things are likely to get even worse.