California law and refinery closure reflect ongoing challenges for the state’s fuel market
On October 14, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed bill Abx2-1 into law, empowering California regulators to set and adjust minimum petroleum product inventory levels for refiners in the state, in part to address the state's fuel price volatility. Shortly after, refiner Phillips 66 announced plans to close its Wilmington refinery in Los Angeles by the end of 2025, citing uncertainty surrounding the long-term sustainability of the refinery.
California law and refinery closure reflect ongoing challenges for the state’s fuel market
On October 14, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed bill Abx2-1 into law, empowering California regulators to set and adjust minimum petroleum product inventory levels for refiners in the state, in part to address the state’s fuel price volatility. Shortly after, refiner Phillips 66 announced plans to close its Wilmington refinery in Los Angeles by the end of 2025, citing uncertainty surrounding the long-term sustainability of the refinery.

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law helps scientists map geology of Puerto Rico
The resulting data will be used by scientists at the USGS, the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, and other groups to better inform knowledge of geologic hazards, such as earthquakes and landslides, and evaluate natural resources as well as other applications. These investments will help improve various aspects of the Puerto Rican economy and resiliency to natural hazards and resource management issues, such as the risk for damaging earthquakes. Puerto Rico was the site of a magnitude 6.4 earthquake in 2020 that caused extensive damage, including to the important Costa Sur power plant, which resulted in island-wide power outages