Gov. Gavin Newsom in a stop Thursday in Fresno defended the recent actions of his air board, saying he takes “pride” in new climate policies that experts say will increase gas prices.

Asked by GV Wire about the possibility of gas prices increasing because of the California Air Resources Board’s vote on climate standards, Newsom pivoted to his climate policy to get “dirty diesel” cars off the road, and job creation.

“It’s a point of pride that the nation has looked at California’s leadership on Low Carbon Fuel Standard,” Newsom said Thursday afternoon.

Newsom appointed 12 of the 14 CARB members.

Last month, CARB voted 12-2 to revamp the LCSF climate program. Several legislators, both Republican and Democrat, cited academic reports that the program could increase the price of gas.

The University of Pennsylvania’s Kleinman Center for Energy Policy predicted a 65 cents per gallon spike next year, and 85 cents through 2030. A USC study said prices could go up 47 cents.

Asked again by KMPH Fox 26’s Rich Rodriguez, Newsom doubled down, blaming the oil industry.

“You have been fleeced by the oil companies. You have been screwed for decades and decades by the oil companies,” Newsom said.

Newsom said the oil industry manipulates the refinery market.

AAA reports that the national average for a gallon of gasoline is $3.06 per gallon. The average in California is $4.45.

Ready to Battle Trump

Newsom also talked about the incoming Donald Trump administration. While he said he’s willing to work with the president-elect, he is hedging his bets. The governor called for a special session of the legislature in December to “Trump-proof” California.

“We know what happened the last time Donald Trump was president. He vandalized our progress. He vandalized our programs. He broke the law,” Newsom said.

Newsom said he hopes not to sue Donald Trump, saying no other Democratic governor worked as closely with Trump than him.

“We’re not going to be caught flat-footed, and we want to be prepared as early as Jan. 20,” Newsom said.

Newsom Touts Regional Economic Plan

Newsom was in Fresno to talk about his $287 million regional economic plan, in consortium with several Central Valley groups. He spoke from an auto shop classroom at the Fresno City College’s West Fresno campus.

“(The plan is) making sure that no region of the state is left behind and that you are included, this region, in that larger vision as well, that it’s not the old vision of a coastal California future,” Newsom said.

Former Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin, now president/CEO of the Central Valley Community Foundation, presented Newsom with a 502-page investment plan.

The plan calls for $100 billion of economic impact and 138,000 new jobs over the next 20 years. Newsom said.

Newsom, along with his senior business adviser Dee Dee Myers, is rolling out 13 different regional economic plans. Fresno was the first stop.

He acknowledged that while some metrics may show a strong economy in California, not everyone is feeling it.

“There was that gap between what some perceived as performance and perception, the lived reality of people feeling on edge, unmoored, uneasy,” Newsom said.