California's oil and jet fuel supply is getting slammed by a perfect storm of unfortunate timing—and help is years away.

The article focuses on the emerging fuel shortages on the U.S. West Coast, particularly in California, driven by the ongoing war in the Middle East and recent refinery closures. California, constrained by geography and strict regulations, relies heavily on imported oil and refined products, making it vulnerable to global supply disruptions. The recent shutdowns of Phillips 66’s Los Angeles refinery and Valero Energy’s Benicia refinery have reduced nearly 20% of the state’s refining capacity, exacerbating jet fuel shortages that are already impacting airlines and leading to flight cancellations. While new pipeline projects like the Western Gateway Pipeline aim to improve domestic supply by 2029, short-term relief depends partly on a temporary waiver of the Jones Act to facilitate fuel shipments from the U.S. Gulf Coast. The situation poses risks of sustained higher fuel prices and potential supply constraints for California and neighboring states through the summer. [Extracted from the article]