Sometimes you just have to wonder what's going through a liberal politician's head. Given that the head in question is likely filled with kapok and feathers, that's always an interesting point to ponder.
Case in point: California's impeccably coiffed Governor Gavin Newsom. On any given day, Governor Newsom makes several statements that make people with enough brains to pound sand go "wait, what?" On Tuesday, though, he seems to have outdone himself, as his press office has sent out a press release touting the governor's plan to spend $95 million in taxpayers' dollars to build more electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and to expand hydrogen fueling in the once-Golden State.
In what universe does this make good economic or energy sense?
Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that California will invest $95.2 million to accelerate the build-out of zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) infrastructure across the state, funding EV charging and hydrogen refueling infrastructure for light-, medium-, and heavy-duty ZEVs and cementing California’s position as the nation’s leader in ZEV infrastructure.
There's a lot to unpack just in that brief opening, but a couple of things stand out.
First, there's no such thing as a "zero-emissions vehicle." Even a purely electric vehicle just moves the emissions to a new location. When you factor in all the costs, charging an EV using an electrical grid that will require massive improvements and upgrades to handle the added load of Governor Newsom's pipe dream may well be less economical than the traditional means - and may well also actually increase emissions.
Second, though, and this is the big one: Why is he doing this in a state that can't keep the lights on? As I wrote recently in a VIP piece (and if you're not yet a RedState VIP member, you ought to be):
California, on the other hand, well, if the once-Golden State has anything, one would think it should have reliable electricity. Instead, California is and has been the top state for blackouts, and that's because of years of Democrat dominance in the state, as well as ignoring the decline of the state's electrical infrastructure.
Newsom's press release presses (hah) on:
The investment, approved Monday by the California Energy Commission (CEC), outlines how its Clean Transportation Program investment plan will support $95.2 million in the current fiscal year, with projected allocations through 2028-2029. Since 2008, the program, secured through the Governor’s continued partnership with the Legislature, has made significant progress in ZEV infrastructure build-out through grant-focused investments totaling more than $2.7 billion.
Whenever a politician or a political advocacy group uses the word "investment," you can translate that to mean, "The taxpayers are about to get their britches stripped away." They mean spending, in great big carload lots, in a state that can't keep the lights on. And, we note, $15 million of this spending is to build up the hydrogen refueling capacity. There are, at present, fewer than 20,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles in the entire United States. That's out of over 284 million privately owned cars. So, Governor Newsom is casually tossing $15 million in California taxpayers' dollars at a technology that comprises .007 percent of the privately owned vehicles in the country. In what universe does this seem worthwhile?
At least 50% of program funds must go toward projects that benefit or serve low-income Californians and residents of low-income and disadvantaged communities. As of March 2026, more than 62% of Clean Transportation Program and supplemental funds have gone to projects in disadvantaged or low-income communities.
So, a massive government subsidy, once again, for a technology that isn't economically viable without massive government subsidies. And this guy wants to be president?
California is a state beset by loony liberal politics. They contend with trying to force "renewable" energy down the throat of an aging power grid that isn't capable of handling intermittent generation efficiently. Californians are already paying the highest electricity rates and the highest fuel prices in the country, not to mention some of the highest personal taxes in the country. The productive people of California are leaving in droves, seeking greener pastures in places like Texas and Florida. And Gavin Newsom, that impeccably coiffed regular patron of the French Laundry, is proposing to send $95 million down yet another green energy rathole.
Mind you, this is a state that proposed a high-speed rail system 25 years ago, and not one train has yet run, nor will one anytime soon.
OK, Gavin. You let us know how all this works out for you.
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