Newsom Sparks Rebellion in Bay Area Town Over Gasoline Imports

A small city perched on San Francisco Bay poses a big obstacle to California Governor Gavin Newsom’s plans to prevent gasoline price spikes in a state that already pays more at the pump than any other.

Valero Energy Corp. plans to shut its refinery in Benicia in April, part of a wave of refinery closures across California as the state shifts away from fossil fuels. Newsom is counting on increased imports to ensure gas prices don’t soar, and his administration is exploring the Valero site — which is connected to a marine port — as a potential storage hub, ...