This is a summary of an important local climate/environment issue from the LWVDV Action Advocacy meeting of August 18, 2025, reported by Valerie Ventre-Hutton.

The Valero refinery in Benicia has announced its closure in April of 2026, which will have a significant impact on many local communities in Contra Costa County. Here is some context around the Valero closure.

• There are three traditional gas/oil refineries and two “renewable diesel” refineries in the Bay Area - Contra Costa has four and Solano/Benicia has one.
• The Valero/Benicia refinery,  which has announced closure this year, produces gasoline. It is the second gasoline refinery to announce closure in 2025. The other is in SoCal (Phillips 66).
• In addition to the anticipated impact on gasoline production, the Valero refinery is responsible for 20% of Benicia’s tax revenue.
• While Valero is in Benicia, there is still a ripple effect in Contra Costa. Refineries provide a foundation for much of the Contra Costa economy. For example, Chevron provides 30% of Richmond’s tax base and there are huge multiplier effects.

If California plans to meet its legislatively mandated goals to move away from fossil fuels, and towards safer, cleaner and more sustainable alternatives, we need to understand this impact and plan for it.

This is a hugely complicated topic with real implications for transforming our county. Links are provided below for additional information on the economic, social, and political implications.

What the Legislature is considering:
If folks want to hear what the legislature is considering right now, there was an Informational Hearing held on August 20. It was a Joint Oversight Hearing of the Assembly Utilities and Energy, Natural Resources, and Transportation Committees, and focused on the refinery and transportation fuel situation.

To see, or hear, a recording of the meeting, please go to this link.
If you go to Media Archive site, you can download video, audio and captions.

Webinars and podcasts:
The Climate Center’s webinar held on July 31, Planning for Refinery Closures that Benefit Workers, Communities, and the Environment, featured the mayor of Benicia as well as representatives from the Contra Costa Labor Council, the California Energy Commission, and a community environmental organization.