AS THE CITY & STATE WORK TO KEEP VALERO OPEN, A LOCAL REFINERY “POLLUTERS PAY” EXCISE TAX IS REQUIRED TO PROTECT US By Dirk Fulton, August 17, 2025 URGENT: STATE ACTION & LEGISLATIVE HEARING THIS WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20 We know Governor Newsom, the California Energy Commission (CEC) and the legislature are seeking to keep the … Continue reading Dirk Fulton: A Great Day for Benicia – Making Polluters Pay →

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL BENICIA IS AT A CROSSROAD: WILL YOU TAKE ACTION TO SAFEGUARD OUR HEALTH BY WORKING TO CLOSE VALERO NEXT APRIL OR LET THE STATE DECIDE OUR FATE? By Dirk Fulton, June 26, 2025 OUR ALARMING CANCER RATES There are several convincing reasons for the refinery to … Continue reading Dirk Fulton: A Great Day for Benicia, Part Four →

VALERO: City Sponsored 3-Year Delay of Closure Endangers Our Health & Promotes Risk of Benicia Remaining a Refinery Town Forever By Dirk Fulton, May 28, 2025 The long history of fires, explosions, shelter-in-place orders, and non-stop, cancer-causing toxic air emissions demand a Valero closure in April 2026 as announced. No later. Using financial scare tactics … Continue reading Dirk Fulton: A Great Day for Benicia, Part Three →

VALERO FIRE: A CALL TO ACTION FOR PERMANENT CLOSURE OF THE REFINERY By Dirk Fulton, May 8, 2025 [and appearing in the Benicia Herald on May 11, 2025] Last Monday’s Valero Refinery fire and shelter-in-place order provided Benicia residents-including Robert Semple Elementary School students and teachers- with a real time reminder that the refinery should … Continue reading Dirk Fulton: A Great Day for Benicia, Part Two →