Senator Suzette Valladares has used her social media platform to express concerns about California’s energy policies and their impact on working families. In a series of posts from February 2026, Valladares addressed rising gas prices, refinery closures, and the effect of taxes on household expenses.
On February 11, Valladares wrote: “Refineries are closing. Supply is shrinking. Gas prices are soaring.
These outcomes aren’t accidental. They’re the predictable result of policies that ignore market realities and infrastructure needs while increasing regulatory pressure on in-state energy production.”
The following day, she commented on the financial pressures facing Los Angeles County residents: “When nearly 1 in 5 LA County residents is living in poverty, the absolute last thing families need is another tax making groceries, gas, and daily life even more expensive.
Working families are already doing the math at the kitchen table. They don’t need Sacramento, or anyone” (February 12).
Valladares continued her critique of state energy policy on February 13: “While California’s energy demand is rising, our state energy policy is forcing out reliable supply. Meanwhile, gas prices are soaring, and families are paying the price at the pump.
We need an energy strategy that ensures reliable supply and lowers costs, not policies that make”.
California has seen significant changes in its energy sector over recent years as policymakers pursue environmental goals by tightening regulations on fossil fuel production and promoting renewable sources. These shifts have coincided with refinery closures and volatility in gasoline prices across the state. The poverty rate cited by Valladares reflects ongoing economic challenges for many residents in Los Angeles County—an area where cost-of-living increases can significantly affect low-income households.
Valladares’ statements come amid broader debates about how best to balance environmental objectives with affordability and reliability for consumers.