Benicia News – Bay Area Air District grants $40M to City of Benicia, Benicia School District |

[Editor: Great news! As far back as 2014, I reported on Benicians petitioning the Air Board to share refinery fines with the communities harmed by the toxic violations. The Air District’s $40 million grants go to show the importance of never giving up! Thanks to Mayor Young and the current Air District Board; and thanks to all who raised awareness by organizing to pass Benicia’s Industrial Safety Ordinance; and thanks to former Mayor Elizabeth Patterson and others who saw the future and pressed for this important Air District accountability and sharing. Following are three reports from local news outlets. – R.S.]

The Vallejo Sun: Bay Area Air District announces $40M in funding for city of Benicia, school district

The grant was awarded from a record $82 million fine against the Valero Refining Company in 2024.

Bay Area Air District Executive Officer Phillip M. Fine announces a $40 million grant award to Benicia at the Benicia Community Center. Photo by Gretchen Smail.

The Vallejo Sun, September 4, 2026

BENICIA – The Bay Area Air District announced $40 million in grant funding for the city of Benicia and the Benicia Unified School District at a press conference on Thursday morning at the Benicia Community Center.

The funds were awarded to the city and the school district from an $82 million fine levied on the Valero Refining Company in 2024 for nearly two decades of toxic emissions releases in Benicia that exceeded legal limits. It’s still the largest penalty ever assessed by the air district.

“This is the first award that the air district is making under our groundbreaking policy that ensures that penalty funds from air quality violations go back into the community where they can have a meaningful local benefit,” said Bay Area Air District Executive Officer Philip Fine. “The City of Benicia and Benicia Unified… […continued…]

The Benicia Bridge: City of Benicia awarded ‘groundbreaking’ $30 million in Valero settlement money for just economic transition and clean air projects

(Left to right) Benicia School Superintendent Chris Calabrese, Benicia Mayor Steve Young, and Bay Area Air District Executive Officer Dr. Philip Fine look on as City Manager Mario Giuliani addresses a crowd of residents and journalists at Thursday’s announcement. Monica Vaughan

The Benicia Bridge, by Monica Vaughan

The City of Benicia will receive $30 million of Valero settlement funds in a landmark grant t… […continued…]

The Benicia Bridge: Benicia schools get $10 million from Valero settlement funds for clean air projects

Benicia Unified School District Office shown Sept. 2, 2026. Monica Vaughan

The Benicia Bridge, by Monica Vaughan

Benicia Unified School District was awarded $10 million of Valero settlement funds from the Bay Area Air District Wednesday for clean air projects, part of a new grant process to redistribute money from air quality fines to impacted communities. […continued…]

Vallejo Times-Herald: Bay Area Air District invests $40 million in Benicia

Air District reinvests penalties from air quality violations into various projects

Benicia City Manager Mario Giuliani talks about how a 40 million dollar grant from the Bay Area Air District, as a result of Valero air quality penalty funds, will help the City of Benicia and the school district during a press conference at the Benicia Community Center on Thursday. (Chris Riley/Times-Herald)

Vallejo Times-Herald, September 3, 2026

The Bay Area Air District announced Thursday it is investing $40 million in Benicia, including $30 million for the city and $10 million for the Benicia Unified School District to support projects aimed at improving air quality, public health and community resilience.

The Benicia Catalyst grants are the first round of awards in the Catalyst grant category of the Local Community Benefits Fund. The Air District adopted the Community Benefits Fund Policy in 2024 to reinvest penalties from air quality violations into impacted communities.

“This is a significant investment by the Air District in the future of Benicia, and it comes at a consequential time in our history as the city prepares for the economic and operational impact associated with the closure of the Valero refinery,” said Benicia Mayor Steve Young. “It’s especially meaningful and appropriate… […continued]

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