Kyle Meng, Associate Professor at the Bren School and the Department of Economics at UC Santa Barbara, was featured as an expert source in a KQED News report on U.S. oil supply disruptions and California's energy vulnerability. Meng serves as Climate and Energy Program Director at UCSB's Environmental Markets Lab and as a Faculty Research Fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research. His research examines the effectiveness, efficiency, and equity consequences of environmental policy.
The coverage comes as California's roughly 45-day supply buffer from Middle East oil shipments — which has largely shielded the state's economy from the full impact of reduced maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz — is coming to an end.
What did Meng tell KQED about California's oil supply situation?
Meng noted that oil futures markets had likely already priced in the arrival of the final tankers to clear the Strait before the disruption took effect. He identified potential interference with Saudi oil shipments through the Red Sea as the development most likely to produce the next significant movement in global oil prices.
Why is California particularly exposed to this type of disruption?
California imports a substantial share of its fuel, with roughly 17 percent of its crude oil sourced from Iraq. The state also depends on Asian suppliers for refined products including gasoline and jet fuel — supply chains that are themselves under pressure as regional demand constraints increase.
What is Meng's research focus at Bren?
An environmental economist with training in engineering and atmospheric physics, Meng studies environmental policy with a focus on climate change. His work spans long-term clean energy transitions, carbon markets, and the relationship between global climate patterns and food insecurity and conflict.
The full KQED article is available at kqed.org. Meng's faculty profile and research are available on the Bren School website.
