Phillips 66 and Kinder Morgan announced a new 1,300‑mile pipeline to bring refined products from the Midwest and Gulf Coast to California and Arizona. The move is intended to mitigate the 20% loss in California’s refining capacity caused by recent refinery closures. California’s fuel supply has long depended on tanker imports and limited pipeline access, leaving the state vulnerable to price spikes. The closures of the Los Angeles and Benicia refineries have intensified concerns about supply disruptions amid global supply volatility. The Western Gateway will transport 200,000 barrels per day of gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, replacing roughly 125,000 bpd that Phoenix currently receives via Kinder Morgan’s SFPP pipeline from California. The project will be built from Borger, Texas, to Phoenix, with the Gold Pipeline reversed to feed the line. The pipeline is slated for in‑service by mid‑2029. The report noted that the first to reach a final investment decision may be the only one to secure a potential multi‑billion‑dollar windfall, as multiple pipelines to the West Coast would compete for limited margins. Ryan Schleeter of the Climate Center described the project as a band‑aid on a much bigger challenge, arguing that the real solution is a managed transition away from gasoline toward electrification. If permitting and regulatory hurdles are cleared, the Western Gateway could provide a reliable supply route that reduces California’s dependence on waterborne imports and helps stabilize gasoline prices, which currently average $5.82 per gallon compared with the national average of $4.02.