Susan Shelley: Who pays for California’s war on drivers? You do.

If you’ve hesitated to buy an electric car because it’s typically easier to find a gas station than a charging station, California has a solution for you.

Fewer gas stations. And higher gas prices.

You may see a number of gas stations closing down in 2026 due to Senate Bill 445, which requires the owners of single-walled underground storage tanks containing hazardous substances – gasoline, for instance – to permanently close or replace them. The deadline is this Wednesday, December 31.