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Bay Area Air District, Benicia, California legislature, Cancer, Stephen Golub, Valero Benicia Refinery

Stephen Golub: URGENT – The State Likely Decides Benicia’s Fate Within a Week

Please Contact Lori Wilson and Other Officials Regarding Valero

 Stephen Golub, A Promised Land – America as a Developing Country

By Stephen Golub, Benicia resident and author. September 2, 2025. [First published in the Benicia Herald on 8/31/25.]

Before the California State Legislature session ends on September 12, the legislators and other State officials may well make crucial decisions on bills and policies regarding the Valero Benicia Refinery’s future. Benicians have barely any time to weigh in on this matter so essential to our health, safety and future, particularly by contacting State Assemblywoman Lori Wilson. She represents Benicia and plays a significant role in this process.

While there’s still a chance that Valero might depart by its self-proclaimed April 2026 deadline, it seems at least as likely that the company and the State will extend its stay by at least a few years.

I’d favor pressing for Valero to stick to that 2026 date. My main concern is that a few years could turn into many, blocking us from biting the bullet to diversify our economy and realize potential benefits such as clean air and enhanced property values in a refinery-free community. A continued presence poses demonstrated risks, including polluting our politics as well as our air. Valero’s harmful operational and advocacy track record is a testament to those risks.

For instance (and as for the most part described in far greater detail in my May 25 Benicia Independent post):

For at least 16 years, the Valero Benicia Refinery spewed toxic emissions hundreds of times the regulatory limits into the City’s air, spurring an $82 million Bay Area Air District fine. According to the Air District, from at least 2003 to 2019 the Benicia refinery committed “egregious emissions violations,” pouring into the city’s air “harmful organic compounds” containing “benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene…which cause cancer, reproductive harm and other toxic health effects.”

Valero knowingly committed these violations, yet did not  inform governmental authorities. In the same statement just cited, the Air District  explained that “refinery management had known since at least 2003 that emissions from the hydrogen system contained these harmful and toxic air contaminants but did not report them or take any steps to prevent them.”

These 16 years of violations and toxic emissions are but  one example of Valero’s hazardous track record in Benicia and across America, including Arkansas, Louisiana, New Jersy, New York, Tennessee and Texas. Even the arguably oil industry-friendly Texas Attorney General sued Valero in 2019 for refinery violations there, in effect citing it as an egregious repeat offender.

Benicia’s cancer rates are far higher than those of the State and Solano County. For example, the city’s breast cancer rate is 93.7 percent higher than California’s and 35.9 percent higher than the County’s. The possible connection to the Benicia refinery is buttressed by research from around the country and world indicating elevated cancer, leukemia and asthma disease rates in refinery communities.

What hazardous plans might the Texas-based corporation push next? Valero’s potentially threatening plans are exemplified by its dangerous “crude by rail” proposal, thankfully defeated by the Benicia City Council several years ago. The project  would have brought through town on a daily basis the kinds of petroleum-carrying trains that have frequently derailed, exploded, caught fire and in one incident killed dozens in a small Quebec city.

Valero’s contributions to climate change threaten Benicia. Above and beyond its facilities’ direct environmental impact, the Texas-based corporation has played a major role in the Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA), which has sought to stymie policies and legislation that would limit rising sea levels and other climate changes that challenge our town. Have you noticed the First Street Green parking lot’s winter flooding? Thank Valero and the WSPA if that kind of climate change damage increasingly bedevils Benicia in years to come.

Having said all this…

If the corporation and California nonetheless decide to extend the refinery’s stay despite these and other concerns, let’s press for ironclad Valero guarantees that it will: 1) close the refinery by 2029; 2) assure severance pay and other appropriate benefits for its workers, especially our Benicia-based friends and neighbors, who bear no responsibility for the Texas-based corporation’s track record; 3) abide by all legal and moral clean-up requirements for the property, rather than pursuing bankruptcy or other options to evade its responsibilities; and 4) not sell the property to another petrochemical industry  operator, which might have as bad or worse an environmental record.

We should similarly seek State guarantees that it will 1) support Benicia’s existing Industrial Safety Ordinance; 2) not block any other local measures to protect or enhance our community’s well-being; 3) not undertake any joint venture with the firm, as that could undercut both our refinery oversight and refinery-linked revenues; and 4) not water down or overturn State, regional and local environmental regulations.

How to advocate for these and other priorities? One way is to call, email or write (via their online contact forms) to Governor Newsom (https://www.gov.ca.gov/contact/), our State Senator Christopher Cabaldon (https://sd03.senate.ca.gov/contact), and, most crucially, our State Assemblywoman Lori Wilson (https://a11.asmdc.org/contact-me).

I emphasize Wilson because, as Chair of the Assembly’s Transportation Committee, she plays a central role regarding any Valero-related legislation and policies – which, again, may well be determined in the days to come.

We can also email Benicia’s City Council members, pressing them  to lobby state officials on our behalf if they’re not already doing so.

Time is growing very short. Now’s the time to act.

A few more noteworthy Benicia notes:

First, property owners should please vote for the Parks, Landscape and Lighting Assessment District (PLLAD ) plan on the ballot recently mailed to you. Funds to provide for vital services for our parks and related facilities are inadequate, not having been updated since 1989. The PLLAD will help keep Beautiful Benicia moving forward, as well as enhancing our property values regardless of whether we use those facilities.

Big kudos for City Manager Mario Giuliani for the “Mondays with Mario” session he hosted at Lucca’s Bar and Grill on August 25. For the 20 or so folks present, it was an illuminating discussion of why we need PLAAD, what’s happening with Valero and several other topics. Councilmembers Trevor Macenski and Terry Scott, and former Councilmember Tom Campbell, also usefully chipped in to the discussion. The next Monday with Mario will be on September 15 at Roundtable Pizza, 878 Southampton Rd, at 6-7 pm.

Equally big kudos to the Benicia Police for all that they do, but particularly (as reported in the Herald) for the August 21 arrest near the Lake Herman Road reservoir of an escaped fugitive wanted for ten counts of arson in Washington State. I don’t want to rush to judgment: As far as I know, we don’t know whether he was associated with recent blazes near Benicia or other details of his background. But if in fact he’s guilty of such acts, it’s good to get him off the streets – especially our streets.

Benicia resident and author Stephen Golub, A Promised Land

CHECK OUT STEPHEN GOLUB’S BLOG, A PROMISED LAND

…and… here’s more Golub on the Benicia Independent

Gun control, Gun violence, Mass shootings

AMERICA IS A GUN – poem by Brian Bilston

This was published here about a year ago and getting lots of hits again today. Sad. Blessings all in Minneapolis…

One Nation, Under the Gun by David Horsey

“AMERICA IS A GUN” by Brian Bilston

England is a cup of tea.
France, a wheel of ripened brie.
Greece, a short, squat olive tree.
America is a gun.
Brazil is football on the sand.
Argentina, Maradona’s hand.
Germany, an oompah band.
America is a gun.
Holland is a wooden shoe.
Hungary, a goulash stew.
Australia, a kangaroo.
America is a gun.
Japan is a thermal spring.
Scotland is a highland fling.
Oh, better to be anything
than America as a gun.

Paul Millicheap, who writes as Brian Bilston, is a British poet and author. Born in Birmingham, he studied at the University of Wales, Swansea, before entering the publishing industry as a marketing manager, notably for John Wiley in Oxford. Wikipedia

Benicia CA, California Assembly, California Energy Commission, Just transition, Valero Benicia Refinery

Dirk Fulton: Report on Benicia concerns before Assembly hearing in Sacramento

[Comment from BenIndy editor: We previously issued a call for Benicians to attend an August 20 hearing before a Joint California Assembly Committee in Sacramento to consider the legislation known as the “Petroleum Market Stabilization” bill. Several Benicia residents attended, including Dirk Fulton, who offers the following reflections. – RS]

California Assembly holds hearing on Gov. Newsom’s hot mess of a “Petroleum Market Stabilization” bill

By Dirk Fulton, August 21, 2025

My reflections on the 6 hour hearing yesterday:

The legislature is clearly following the recommendations of the California Energy Commission (CEC) at Gov. Newsom’s request. CEC Vice-Chair Gunda made a lengthy presentation and answered followup questions from legislators. Late in the hearing, an Assemblyman from Los Angeles asked if the State was considering “taking over” the refinery. Gunda responded saying that Valero is in private talks with the CEC and all options are being explored to keep Valero open. One option could of course include a joint venture structure between Valero & the State. Oil companies do this all the time.

This alternative would be a horrible result for Benicia from both a regulatory and refinery closure standpoint.

Another Assemblyman commented that if exports of California refined product to Nevada and Arizona were reduced, there would be a 10% surplus in capacity of refined product thereby eliminating the prospect of any California gas shortages following a Valero closure. There was also discussion of increasing imports which is doable, and subsidizing further EV usage thereby reducing demand for gasoline, which would allow Valero to close without causing gasoline prices to spike.

Importantly, a longtime energy consultant to Citizens for a Better Environment and now a consultant to the CEC released a study yesterday morning demonstrating that as the PBF Martinez refinery returns to production (closed since the February fire), its production will offset any loss of production from a Valero closure.

A lobbyist from the Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA) was allowed to present for twenty minutes and respond to questions for another twenty. He stated that he meets regularly with the CEC to advocate for Valero remaining open. He seemed to have strong influence over the CEC and legislators including Benicia’s representative Lori Wilson.

Mayor Young’s 10 minutes of testimony did not help us regarding getting Valero closed. He basically wants the refinery to remain open for at least five more years-which basically means forever. He did NOT address our high cancer or asthma rates or address ongoing health risks to residents.

My takeaways:

    • Refining capacity is manageable. It can be maintained at acceptable limits following a Valero closure so gas prices don’t spike.
    • A State/Valero venture would be horrible for Benicia as increased regulation would be difficult and the refinery likely would never close. This seems to be a WSPA idea and comes from the Donald Trump playbook , e.g., what Trump has our federal government doing with Intel – a joint-venture-like concept where USA is contributing capital to sustain Intel Corp and receiving equity and profits in return.
    • Our best strategy to discourage the State and Valero going forward and to discourage any potential buyer is the local Polluters Pay Excise tax ballot measure. A $1 per barrel tax would substantially diminish refinery profit thereby operating as a disincentive. The Richmond example shows it works. Mayor Young told me in a hallway conversation that he supports the idea, and has received advice from City Attorney Ben Stock this week that it is legal.
    • We need a local citizens committee to be formed to lobby for this proposal.

Dirk Fulton

Read more Dirk Fulton on the Benicia Independent

Dirk Fulton, Benicia

Dirk Fulton, Lifelong Resident & former Solano County Planning Commissioner, Vice Mayor, City Councilman & School Board President
For More Information visit: www.greatdayforbenicia.com

Benicia CA, Benicia City Manager, California Energy Commission, Just transition, Valero Benicia Refinery, Valero Energy Corporation

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.