EDITORIAL: Ford should continue Lombardo’s fuel plans

When it comes to gasoline prices, California poses a greater long-term threat to Nevada drivers than Iran.

Unsurprisingly, the election results highlighted that soaring gas prices are extremely unpopular. It’s an expense that’s highly visible and which many drivers pay on a regular basis. High prices at the pump pinch family budgets and make other goods more expensive. President Donald Trump and Republicans throughout the country learned the lesson dearly this month.

Gas prices have dropped slightly since the election but remain elevated. Mr. Trump seems to have settled on continuing the blockade of Iranian oil but otherwise limiting offensive military action. That strategy has so far pleased the fickle markets. If the United States can facilitate the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz, it could bring filling-up costs down further in the coming months.

Even so, Nevada will continue to endure some of the highest gas prices in the country. Consider this: The average cost of a gallon of gas in Texas is currently around $3.40. A year ago, before the Iran war, Nevada’s average price for a gallon of gas was $3.94.

The higher costs are largely the result of Nevada’s dependence on California. Nevada imports around 88 percent of its gasoline from the Golden State. For decades, California has been waging war on fossil fuels. Under Gov. Gavin Newsom, it imposed additional restrictions on refineries. Over the past year, two major refineries have shut down, reducing California’s refinery capacity by around 17 percent. This drives up prices for motorists.

Climate change worries don’t override the reality of supply and demand. As California drove its refineries out of the state, it — and hence Nevada — had to rely more on foreign oil imports. Not great.

Gov. Joe Lombardo identified this as a vulnerability and created the Nevada Fuel Resiliency Committee. Right before the election, the group released a series of recommendations. Key among them was supporting “pipeline projects that would bring additional fuel supplies into the region, including the Western Gateway Project and proposed expansions to the UNEV pipeline system.”

That is desperately needed. Southern Nevada needs access to gasoline from Texas and other Eastern states as an alternative to California. The Western Gateway Project isn’t a direct solution for Las Vegas, but it would increase supply in the region. The group also suggested expanding Nevada’s ability to receive fuel by rail and increasing fuel storage.

These aren’t immediate fixes, but some problems can’t be solved quickly. No matter who sits in the Governor’s Mansion, Nevadans would benefit from the implementation of these proposals.

If Gov.-elect Aaron Ford wants to lower gas prices, he would be wise to continue the work started under Gov. Lombardo.