KQED's Forum Benicia Contends With Valero Refinery Closure
May 5, 2025
Join Steve Young, the Mayor of Benicia, who discusses the community's anxiety over the Valero refinery closure, a major employer and taxpayer. Josh Sonnenfeld from the Blue Green Alliance sheds light on the balance between economic sustainability and environmental health. Severin Borenstein, a UC Berkeley professor, provides insights into the financial impacts and the need for a just transition for displaced workers. Together, they navigate the complex interplay of local jobs, pollution, and California's shift away from fossil fuels.
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Climate Policy Drives Refinery Closures
- California's efforts to decarbonize transport cause refinery closures as gasoline demand declines.
- The transition requires balancing worker impacts with climate goals through advanced planning.
Valero's Workforce Structure Explained
- Valero refinery employs about 400 workers, largely non-union, with many contract workers on temporary terms.
- The workforce fluctuates daily but can affect thousands in the broader area.
Long-Undisclosed Pollution Hurts Trust
- Valero refinery's extensive hydrogen gas emissions violated air quality rules for 12-15 years before being disclosed.
- This severely damaged public trust despite the refinery being one of the safest in the Bay Area.