Benicia still working to save refinery

City Manager says city is also preparing to have a significant and seismic shift with losses

Vallejo Times Herald, by Thomas Gase, July 23, 2025

Three months after Valero Refining Company-California submitted notice to the California Energy Commission of its intent to idle and cease operations in April of 2026, Benicia leaders are still searching for solutions.

However, Benicia City Manager Mario Giuliani said “time is of the essence” as some deadlines are fast approaching this month in an attempt to keep the refinery in Benicia.

“The city has been working diligently to find solutions to this depth of a loss,” Giuliani said on Wednesday. “We have multiple task forces talking. We’re trying to prepare for the huge revenue loss to the city, but overall still communicating and forming action plans.”

Giuliani said Benicia has partnered with Tyler Munis to process and evaluate the situation.

“The city is preparing to have a significant and seismic shift with losses,” Giuliani said. “There is a potential of a $10 million loss on a $16 million budget.”

A drone view of the Valero Benicia Refinery in Benicia, Calif., on Thursday, May 1, 2025. The refinery is scheduled to close by April 2026 (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

In 2023 Gavin Newsom signed a law giving the California Energy Commission the authority to penalize oil companies for excess profits, declaring the state had “finally beat big oil.” More than two years later, the commission hasn’t imposed a single penalty or determined what counts as an excessive profit.

However, just two years later, the California Energy Commission Vice Chair, Siva Gunda, said that the state should pause the effort in favor of pursuing other policies to lower prices and maintain a steady oil supply.

“Together, we will evolve California’s strategy to successfully phase out petroleum-based fuels by 2045 while protecting communities, workers, and consumers, and foster market conditions that support the industry’s ability to operate safely, reliably, and successfully to meet demand through the transition,” Gunda wrote in a 24-page letter to Newsom in late June.

Gunda’s recommended pause of the penalty would have to be agreed upon by the full commission. Newsom has pitched the penalty as a way to rein in profits by oil companies, but critics said it would only raise prices.

Meanwhile California government officials are trying to find a buyer for the refinery. Giuliani said that losing the refinery would put California in “a crisis for 2026.”

“California will not have a significant fuel supply to meet demand,” Giuliani told the Times-Herald on Wednesday. “All the other refineries are planning to leave as well, so we that doesn’t help. There is a declining demand for fossil fuel, but still enough of a demand that we need it.”

Valero Energy Corporation has owned and operated the Benicia Refinery since 2000. The refinery was originally built for Humble Oil, later called Exxon. Construction of the facility began in 1968 and was completed in 1969.

Valero Energy Corporation, through its subsidiaries (collectively, Valero), is a multinational manufacturer and marketer of petroleum-based and low-carbon liquid transportation fuels and petrochemical products, and sells its products primarily in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Latin America.

Valero owns 15 petroleum refineries located in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. with a combined throughput capacity of approximately 3.2 million barrels per day.

Valero Headquarters in San Antonio, Texas, and has more than 9,900 employees, with approximately 400 at the Benicia venue. That refinery has a throughput capacity of 170,000 barrels per day, according to the company. According to a list from the California Energy Commission, Benicia has 8.94 percent of the state’s crude oil capacity.

In connection with the evaluation of strategic alternatives for Valero’s operations in California, a combined pre-tax impairment charge of $1.1 billion was recorded for the Benicia and Wilmington refineries, and is expected to be treated as a special item and excluded from first quarter 2025 adjusted earnings. Also included in this amount is the recognition of expected asset retirement obligations of $337 million as of March 31.

Despite the grim news, Giuliani wanted to remind the public that Benicia has a history of coming through in adversity.

“We lost the Benicia Arsenal and Benicia Barracks in the mid 1960’s, but we came back with an industrial park on that land,” Giuliani said. “But we also need to face reality as we will be facing a period of austerity and we need to proceed with action and find new growth for our city.

“This is now a state issue and the state does not want to see this happen,” the city manager continued. “Conversations are continuing and there is certainly a chance that Valero stays, but time is of the essence. There is no deadline, but we’re talking about an amount of days were key points need to take place.”

Giuliani said that Benicia is at a crossroads.

“We’re tackling and fighting a war on two fronts,” the city manager said. “We’re fighting problems of the past while also fighting this problem with the refinery that instead of fighting ten years down the road, we are fighting now.”

The city of Benicia was given a shelter-in-place alert and areas south of the Valero Refinery were evacuated after a power outage caused a flare up sending plumes of black smoke across Interstate 680. – Chris Riley — Times-Herald

While Valero is a big part of Benicia business, is it not without its critics — particularly after the refinery became the site of a series of air pollution incidents. This includes a hydrogen vent at the refinery that had been leaking 2.7 tons of toxics into the air for 15 years.

That discovery resulted in an historic $84 million fine imposed by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (an oversight agency) in 2024.

Critics also point to inspectors reporting that Valero management had known about the leaks for years, but failed to report them or take steps to mitigate the leak. The fine reportedly was the largest penalty ever assessed by the district.

Valero was one of four other refineries that in 2023 didn’t meet requirements as defined by BAAQMD and Rule 12-15. That rule — passed in 2016 — requires refineries to monitor and report fugitive gasses from their operating equipment, such as valves, compressors, and storage tanks. These emissions impact the health of the surrounding communities — the toxic gases released include noxious chemicals like the cancer-causing benzene.

The Benicia City Council on April 2 voted 5-0 on a safety ordinance that aims to help protect Benicians against potential fires, explosions and toxic emissions connected to the Valero Refinery and other facilities causing health concerns in the city. Before the vote, Benicia was previously the only Bay Area refinery town to not yet have an Industrial Safety Ordinance.

State of California working to keep Benicia’s Valero refinery open

California seeks buyer to save Bay Area refinery as gas prices soar

A close up view at the Valero Refinery in Benicia on April 16, 2025. Valero said it intends to close, idle or restructure its refinery in 2026. But as gas prices soar across the state, California officials are intervening to find a buyer, according to a new report. | Carlos Avila Gonzalez/S.F. Chronicle

San Francisco Chronicle,  by Aidin Vaziri, July 23, 2025

In a rare move to safeguard California’s fuel supply, state officials are actively seeking a buyer for Valero Energy’s Benicia refinery, according to a report Wednesday from Reuters citing sources familiar with the matter.

Valero, the nation’s second-largest refiner by capacity, plans to shut down the 145,000-barrel-per-day facility by April 2026. The closure reflects declining fuel demand in the state and growing regulatory pressure on fossil fuel producers.

But with gasoline prices in California already the highest in the nation — averaging $4.484 per gallon on Wednesday compared to a national average of $3.155, according to AAA — the state is taking steps to prevent further market disruption.

Valero did not immediately respond to a request for comment. City officials in Benicia declined to comment.

The California Energy Commission is quietly facilitating talks with potential buyers in a bid to keep the refinery operational, according to the Reuters report.

“CEC is engaging with market players to explore pathways for the continued operation of in-state refineries,” the agency said in a statement to Reuters.

In a more detailed statement to the Chronicle on Wednesday, the commission emphasized that its efforts extend beyond a single facility and are part of a larger transition plan for California’s fuel supply system.

“CEC has been and is actively supporting conversations with a variety of market players to discuss pathways to address the impacts of the closure intent announcements of the Phillips 66 refinery in Wilmington and Valero refinery in Benicia,” the agency said. “CEC’s goal, as part of a statewide transition strategy, is to support a stable and affordable fuel supply, including by promoting resilience in the transportation fuels system and a prudent cushion in fuel supply to mitigate impacts of refinery outages.”

The move signals a notable shift for a state long committed to aggressive climate goals. In recent years, California has prioritized the transition to renewable energy, pushing to shutter traditional refineries — a policy that has often put the state at odds with oil companies.

The planned Benicia closure follows Phillips 66’s decision last year to shut its Los Angeles-area refinery. Together, the two facilities account for roughly 17% of the state’s gasoline supply. Analysts warn that losing both could drive pump prices as high as $6 to $8 per gallon, according to a UC Davis study.

According to the report, among the parties contacted by the state is HF Sinclair, which had previously held talks with Valero before negotiations fell apart over an environmental issue. It said the Energy Commission has also reached out to European operators familiar with stringent emissions standards, the report said.

Valero employs approximately 400 people in Benicia, ranking among the city’s top employers. It also stands as Benicia’s largest taxpayer and a significant contributor to local charitable efforts.

On the same day news broke that California officials are trying to find a buyer for Valero’s Benicia refinery, authorities responded to intermittent flaring at the facility.

According to the Benicia Fire Department, the flaring began Wednesday after a unit was restarted following routine maintenance. Valero attributed the event to a “mechanical issue” with its nitrogen plant and said it would continue for several hours while the situation was monitored.

“We currently do not anticipate any off-site health impacts,” fire officials said in a social media post.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District confirmed it was investigating the incident, responding to complaints, and monitoring for possible air quality violations.

Flaring, the controlled burning of excess gases, is a standard safety measure at refineries to relieve pressure and prevent explosions.

The facility has had other problems in recent months, most notably when a significant fire broke out May 5, prompting a shelter-in-place notification for nearby residents. Firefighters brought the blaze under control about an hour later.

The explosive case for why Donald Trump Is the most dangerous criminal in U.S. history…

Is Donald Trump America’s Public Enemy #1?

The Hartman Report, by Thom Hartmann, Jul 22, 2025

When historians look back on this era, they’ll inevitably ask how a nation built on principles of democracy, justice, and equality allowed one man to commit such a broad range of crimes and abuses, and whether Donald Trump is indeed the most dangerous criminal in American history.

To fully grasp the gravity of Trump’s actions, consider the extensive categories of his criminal and potentially criminal conduct, each more disturbing than the last.

First, there’s the relentless financial corruption. Trump has long played fast and loose with the law when it came to his finances. In New York, his company was convicted of tax fraud and financial manipulation designed to deceive lenders and inflate his wealth. Trump University was shuttered after a $25 million fraud settlement, its “students” left feeling defrauded.

His charitable organization, the Trump Foundation, was dissolved following revelations that funds intended for charity were instead used to benefit Trump personally and politically, and to pay off Pam Bondi in Florida where he and Epstein were living (she was AG for almost a decade and never went after Epstein).

But Trump’s shady financial dealings didn’t begin or end with these public scandals. For decades, he was closely associated with New York’s organized crime families. Trump Tower itself was built using concrete provided by mob-linked companies.

Roy Cohn, Trump’s mentor and attorney as I detail in The Last American President: A Broken Man, a Corrupt Party, and a World on the Brink, was a notorious fixer and lawyer for mob figures such as Anthony “Fat Tony” Salerno and Paul Castellano.

Trump’s casinos also regularly skirted the law, drawing scrutiny from federal investigators for potential money laundering linked to organized crime, and his former casino manager recently revealed to CNN that Trump and Jeffrey Epstein once even showed up together with underage girls in tow (the White House denies the story).

Trump’s long relationship with Epstein further exposes his moral bankruptcy and possible criminality. The two were close associates and owned residences near each other in New York and Palm Beach, socializing together frequently.

Trump famously described Epstein as a “terrific guy” who enjoyed the company of beautiful women, some “on the younger side.” Multiple reports suggest Trump knew about Epstein’s exploitation of minors, yet Trump continued their association until public scandal made it inconvenient.

Then there are Trump’s questionable international relationships, with none more alarming than his mysterious affinity for Vladimir Putin. Trump’s first administration consistently favored Russian interests, dismissing election interference findings from American intelligence agencies, undermining NATO, and, in his second administration even withholding military aid from Ukraine, thus benefiting Putin’s geopolitical ambitions.

While the full nature of Trump’s entanglement with Putin remains hidden, Trump’s obsequious behavior toward the Russian dictator raises serious questions about financial leverage or compromised loyalties. For example, the only major country in the world Trump chose not to impose tariffs on this year was Russia.

Trump’s disturbing Russian connections also include his 2016 campaign manager and close confidant, Paul Manafort, whose career was dedicated to installing pro-Putin autocrats and corrupt oligarchs across Eastern Europe, including Ukraine and Albania. Heidi Seigmund Cuda writes about his recent Albania connection in her great Bette Dangerous Substack newsletter.

Manafort was convicted of multiple felonies, including tax and bank fraud, stemming from his shady dealings overseas, actions intimately connected with Putin’s broader geopolitical ambitions, for which Trump pardoned him.

Trump’s choice of Manafort to lead his 2016 campaign wasn’t coincidental; it signaled to Moscow an openness to influence, further raising troubling questions about Trump’s susceptibility to foreign manipulation and complicity in Manafort’s criminal schemes.

Trump’s election interference is equally alarming. It began with hush-money payments to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal to manipulate public perception during the 2016 campaign, for which he was convicted of felony election manipulation charges in Manhattan last year.

More brazenly, Trump attempted to subvert democracy in Georgia when he lost the 2020 election by demanding of Georgia’s Secretary of State, “I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have.”

His attempts to cling to power by any means necessary reached a terrifying crescendo with the conspiracy to overturn the 2020 presidential election, ultimately joined by over 100 Republican members of Congress. This led to a federal indictment, making him the first former president charged with seeking to destroy the very democratic system that put him into power.

Trump’s abuse of presidential authority is chillingly unprecedented. Robert Mueller’s investigation laid out multiple instances where Trump criminally obstructed justice, brazenly interfering with federal investigations. He solicited foreign interference from Ukraine in the 2020 election, a move that led to his first impeachment.

Trump’s presidency was also marred by repeated violations of the Emoluments Clause as he profited directly from foreign governments funneling money through his hotels and golf clubs. He pitched Teslas from the White House in flagrant violation of the Hatch Act (penalty: 5 years in prison). Even after leaving office in 2021, Trump illegally retained classified documents and obstructed federal efforts to retrieve them, leading to further federal charges.

One of the most grotesque and morally bankrupt chapters of the Trump presidency unfolded in the early months of the Covid pandemic, when Trump and his son-in-law Jared Kushner reportedly made the political calculation that the virus was “only hitting Blue states” and disproportionately killing Black Americans so it could be weaponized.

According to reporting at the time, Kushner convened a secretive White House task force of mostly male, white, preppy private-sector advisors who concluded that a robust federal response to minimize deaths would be politically disadvantageous. Their analysis was clear: since it was primarily Democratic governors and Black communities suffering the early brunt of the pandemic (NY, NJ, WA), Trump could politically benefit by blaming local leadership and withholding meaningful federal aid.

It was a cynical — and deadly — strategy to let the virus burn through the opposition’s voter base that ultimately led to an estimated 500,000 unnecessary American deaths and gave us as the second-most Covid deaths per person in the world.

This approach not only explains the administration’s chaotic and insufficient response to testing, supplies, and coordination, it exposes a level of callous — morally, if not legally criminal — political calculus rarely seen in modern American history since the days of the Trail of Tears.

Leaked documents and internal communications at the time confirmed that federal resources were distributed unevenly, often favoring Republican-led states.

Trump also regularly lashed out at Democratic governors like Gretchen Whitmer and Andrew Cuomo while ignoring their pleas for ventilators and PPE. As the death toll mounted, Trump publicly minimized the virus, holding rallies and rejecting masks, while privately admitting to journalist Bob Woodward that Covid was “deadly stuff.”

This wasn’t just negligence: it was targeted neglect driven by racism and partisanship, carried out in the middle of a once-in-a-century public health emergency.

Beyond these abuses of power, Trump openly incited political violence. His rhetoric fueled vigilantism and violent confrontations at rallies.

Most infamously, on January 6th, 2021, he incited an insurrection designed to halt the peaceful transition of power in a stunning betrayal without precedent in American history. He encouraged extremist and white supremacist groups like the Proud Boys, Three Percenters, and Oath Keepers, effectively endorsing domestic terrorism.

Right up until he took office and corruptly shut them down, investigations continued into potential wire fraud and misuse of funds from Trump’s “Save America” PAC, alongside scrutiny into financial irregularities involving his Truth Social platform.

Investigations into obstruction, witness intimidation, and potential bribery — now blocked as the Supreme Court has put him above the law, or shut down by his toadies — further compound his record of potential crimes.

Yet Trump’s ultimate crime goes beyond mere lawbreaking. He has methodically eroded democratic institutions, weaponized disinformation to undermine public trust, and attacked the traditionally nonpartisan independence of the judiciary, intelligence agencies, military, and law enforcement. His assaults on the press are right out of Putin’s playbook. Trump’s relentless assault on truth and democracy normalizes authoritarianism and political violence.

Thus, his most dangerous crime is not simply corruption or obstruction, nor even incitement of insurrection: it’s the deliberate attempted destruction of American democracy itself. This crime, far more profound than any individual act, threatens the survival of the republic itself.

If America is to survive as a free nation, we must confront the reality of Trump’s actions. He isn’t merely a criminal; he’s become the most dangerous criminal in American history precisely because his actions imperil the very foundations of our democracy.

Allowing such crimes to go unpunished risks setting a precedent that future would-be autocrats may follow, forever tarnishing the promise of American democracy. Once he’s out of power, our nation’s new mantra must become, “Never forget, never forgive, never again.”


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The song that was inspired by this article:
Louise’s Daily Song: “Is Donald Trump Public Enemy #1?”

Thom Hartman reading this article as an audio podcast is here.

Hartman’s newest book, The Last American President:
A Broken Man, a Corrupt Party, and a World on the Brink

comes out soon and is now available for pre-order.

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PHOTOS: Benicia crowd of 350 made ‘good trouble’ at City Park

GOOD TROUBLE LIVES ON – in Benicia!

By Roger Straw, The Benicia Independent, July 20, 2025

 

Good Trouble in Benicia. Photo: Mary DeShaw, ProBonoPhoto.org

A large crowd of Benicians & Vallejoans joined the nationwide protest honoring the late John R. Lewis and protesting the Trump administration.  On July 17, about 350 gathered around the Gazebo in City Park with creative signs, chants and cheers, good music, fabulous speakers, voter registration, a food drive – and even a bubble machine!

“Ordinary people with extraordinary vision can redeem the soul of America by getting in what I call good trouble, necessary trouble.” – John Lewis

SLIDESHOW – scenes from the event…
[Many thanks to Benician Mary DeShaw of ProBonoPhoto.org for the photos.]

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The local action in Benicia was part of Good Trouble Lives On — a nationwide day of peaceful, nonviolent action rooted in the legacy of the civil rights movement and inspired by John Lewis’ call to make “good trouble, necessary trouble.”

Participants from Vallejo and Benicia gathered to demand an end to the authoritarian attacks on our freedom to vote, protest, and organize — and to stand united against efforts to criminalize our communities, roll back our rights, and slash vital public programs.

The event was cosponsored by Vallejo-Benicia IndivisibleLeague of Women Voters Solano and the Vallejo-Benicia AAUW, along with organizers of  Benicia’s EVERY Thursday 5-6pm vigil for democracy.

Speakers included Rami Muth of League of Women Voters Solano; Dr. Tonia Lediju, Vallejo City Council; Kari Birdseye, Benicia City Council; Rev. Dr. Mary Susan Gast, Benicia Poet Laureate Emerita; and Helen-Marie ‘Cookie’ Gordon, Vallejo City Council.

Roger Straw, The Benicia Independent

It was a joyful but demanding crowd. 350 of us stood united in calling for an end to the Trump administration’s many moves to end our beautiful multicultural democracy.

Roger Straw
The Benicia Independent