California Energy Education
California still runs on oil. But as the state shuts down local production, it does not eliminate demand — it simply replaces California oil with foreign oil shipped thousands of miles across the ocean.
Over 60% imported from outside the U.S. — 2025 data
Source: California Energy Commission, 2025
The Energy Island
Unlike most states, California is not meaningfully connected to the rest of the U.S. crude oil pipeline network.
That means California cannot easily replace lost local production with oil from Texas, North Dakota, or other domestic producers. When California produces less oil, the replacement almost always arrives by tanker.
“If we don't produce it here, we import it from somewhere else.”
Core principle — KnowOil.org
Share of California Refinery Crude Supply — 2025
Source: California Energy Commission, 2025
California's Oil Supply
In 2025, only 22.9% of crude oil refined in California came from California itself. More than three-quarters was imported from outside the state.
Top Foreign Sources of California Crude — 2023
Source: California Energy Commission, 2023. Percentages of foreign crude only.
The Tanker Problem
It puts it on a ship.
Short, Accountable Supply Chain
Long, Unaccountable Supply Chain
“Tanker transport adds marine emissions, port emissions, spill risk, and dependence on long global supply chains.”
Human Rights & Foreign Dependence
California's foreign crude supply includes countries with very different environmental regulations, labor rules, political systems, and human-rights records than California.
The question is not whether oil use should decline over time. The question is whether California should produce the oil it still uses under California's strict rules — or import it from overseas under someone else's rules.
“Cleaner rules here. Dirtier supply chains there.”
Top Foreign Sources — Share of CA Foreign Crude, 2023
| Country | Share |
|---|---|
| Iraq | 21.70% |
| Saudi Arabia | 15.67% |
| Brazil | 15.08% |
| Ecuador | 14.62% |
| Guyana | 9.73% |
| Colombia | 6.01% |
| Canada | 4.27% |
| Mexico | 4.15% |
| UAE | 1.85% |
| Other | 6.92% |
Source: California Energy Commission, 2023
Refinery Closures
Phillips 66 planned to close its 139,000 barrel-per-day Wilmington refinery. Valero submitted notice to end refining operations at its 145,000 barrel-per-day Benicia refinery by April 2026. Valero planned to continue supplying Northern California through imported gasoline after the Benicia shutdown.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration; Reuters Energy Reporting
What Californians Should Know
Before California makes energy policy, Californians deserve to understand the tradeoffs.
California still uses large amounts of oil every day — for transportation, farming, shipping, emergency services, manufacturing, and aviation.
California is geographically isolated from the main U.S. oil pipeline network.
When California produces less oil, it usually imports more.
In 2025, only about 22.9% of crude oil refined in California came from in-state production.
More than 61% came from foreign countries in 2025.
Imported crude often travels thousands of miles by ocean tanker.
Tanker transport adds maritime emissions, port emissions, and spill risk.
Some oil-producing countries have weaker environmental rules than California.
Some foreign suppliers have troubling human-rights records.
California refinery closures could increase dependence on imported gasoline — not just imported crude.
Eliminating local production before eliminating demand does not end oil use — it exports the production, jobs, emissions, and accountability.
Sources & Data Room
All figures on this site are sourced from official government data and published reporting. This is a civic education project — not an oil company advertisement.
2025 crude supply breakdown: CA 22.9%, Alaska 16.0%, Foreign 61.1%.
2023 foreign crude by country: Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Ecuador, etc.
Phillips 66 Wilmington and Valero Benicia closure notices.
Valero's plan to supply Northern California through imported gasoline post-closure.
The choice is between California oil produced under California rules — or foreign oil shipped across the ocean under someone else's rules. California can lead the energy transition without pretending demand disappears overnight.