By Jesse Rojas
Bakersfield and the Central Valley know something Sacramento often forgets: energy policy is not theoretical. It shows up every time a family fills up their tank, every time a contractor budgets a job, and every time a worker decides whether they can afford to stay in California.
In Kern County, driving isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity. Farmworkers, oilfield workers, tradespeople, and small business owners regularly travel long distances just to make a living. When gas prices spike, there is no alternative route or public transit option that makes up the difference. The cost hits families directly and immediately.
California already has some of the highest fuel prices in the nation. According to GasBuddy, drivers in states like Oklahoma pay just over two dollars a gallon — nearly half of what Californians pay. For families here in Bakersfield, that difference adds up quickly and leaves less money for groceries, rent, and savings.
Click here to read the article in the Bakersfield Californian.
