Air Board rejects public demands for transparency from Sen. Ochoa Bogh

Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh(R-Yucaipa) today voiced her concern over the California Air Resources Board's continued lack of response to her letter and the public outrage of Californians demanding basic information on how the board's proposed new fees might affect gas prices.

"It's absolutely irresponsible and unacceptable that this board has chosen to ignore how its policies will impact gas prices, especially when Californians are already facing a skyrocketing cost of living," said Senator Ochoa Bogh. "CARB's refusal to acknowledge how this will hit consumers' wallets is deeply disappointing."

Last week Ochoa Bogh and Assemblymember Greg Wallis spearheaded an effortasking CARB to disclose how much the proposed changes to the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) program regulations would increase prices for gasoline at the pump. The proposals are set for a vote on November 8. The letter, signed by 25 Republican legislators, also called on CARB to postpone the vote until the fiscal impacts are provided to the public. The board has offered no formal response to the letter.

"The Air Board is not a separate branch of government and they should stop operating as such," said Assemblymember Greg Wallis(R-Bermuda Dunes). "There needs to be accountability and transparency here and so far we've seen neither. Their refusal to release new estimates tells me they know this regulation will be devastating for Californians and they're hiding the truth."

The initial estimatesprovided by CARB outlined a per gallon increase of $0.52 by 2026. Those figures were later walked back by CARB, which claimed they were not official calculations, and new estimates have not been released despite repeated calls from legislators and the public. Independent analysis has estimated those gas price increases at as much as $1.50 per gallon.

Two weeks ago, CARB's chief Steven Cliff told the Los Angeles Timesthat the agency would not be analyzing gas price impacts of its policy anew, looking instead at economic growth, job creation and public health.

"CARB's pivot from our question - How much will gas prices increase? - to talking points about public health and job creation is nothing but redirection at exactly the time Californians need honesty and clarity," said Senator Ochoa Bogh. "Here are the facts: CARB's LCFS amendments will increase fuel costs for drivers and consumer prices generally, affecting the most vulnerable in our state. It's time for CARB to be honest with Californians about the true costs of their proposed amendments."

Instead of providing requested data on the price increases these new regulations may cause, CARB issued a "factsheet"about the LCFS program in general which addresses none of the raised concerns. The document acknowledges that current LCFS regulations add $0.10 per gallon to the price of gas while at the same time claiming that there is "no relationship" between LCFS and gas prices. It contained no information about the potential impacts of the pending update to the program.

The board will meet today at a public hearing to discuss other issues but remains steadfast in their refusal to address the most pressing issue before them.