LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The California Air Resources Board voted 12-2 Friday to pass a climate program to reduce fuel emissions, which could also raise gas prices in Las Vegas.
“As a driver,” Daren Smith told 8 News Now. “It would keep my gas tank from being full.”
Smith was one of several Southern Nevada drivers who reacted to the decision.
The stricter state regulations will reduce fuel emissions while funding electric car charging stations.
The plan’s proponents have called it a win for the state’s climate goals, but those traveling in Las Vegas and across Nevada said they are nervous about seeing the eventual hiccup here locally.
“I hate us being like the neighboring states,” driver Brandy Howard said of California. “Everything they do always affects us because we get a lot of stuff from them.”
Since 90% of Nevada’s gas supply comes from California, higher refinery costs caused by this ruling have the potential to push our prices up by 47 to 65 cents per gallon starting in 2025.
Smith told 8 News Now he can’t knock the reasons behind the change, but he doesn’t know if he can handle another hike.
“I think reducing carbon emissions is a good thing,” he said. “But it’s like can you find another way to do that financially, without putting the cost on the driver?”
He and Howard both called it a cost that trickles down to all aspects of life that rely on transportation.
“I really hope they don’t go up more,” Howard concluded of gas prices. “I really hope.”
Friday’s meeting lasted around 12 hours with public comment from more than 100 people taking up seven hours alone.
The move is also set to phase out incentives for capturing methane emissions from California dairy farms to turn into fuel, which could encourage farmers to leave the state.
