Sacramento, CA – Western States Petroleum Association President and CEO Jodie Muller today announced the organization’s strong opposition to any rushed attempt to reauthorize the state’s Cap-and-Trade program in the remaining days of the legislative session. Weekend discussions highlighted concerns from industry and business groups that a last-minute Cap-and-Trade bill might result in policies that will kill good paying jobs, undermine investor confidence and increase costs for consumers.

“WSPA strongly opposes this rushed attempt to reauthorize the state’s Cap-and-Trade program behind closed doors in the remaining days of the legislative session. This effort does not represent progress toward a workable solution, rather it is a major reversal for both affordability and stabilization of the oil and gas industry. With the state already experiencing leakage in real time with two announced refinery closures, this deal does nothing to create the kind of investor certainty that is necessary to ensure a reliable, affordable fuel supply for California and our neighboring states. Policymakers need to focus on ensuring that reauthorization takes place in a realistic way that includes input from technical experts so that both environmental and economic goals can be achieved.”