Concern about the health of the Carquinez Strait and emissions from the Valero Refinery has created a climate of environmental awareness in this city of 28,000. The Strait, which wraps around the city, was and still is vital to this city’s economic well-being and quality of life. With the recent Valero Refinery closure, Benicia climate action and advocacy is more important than ever before.
Established in 1847, Benicia soon grew as businesses, including shipbuilding, and homes were established. Then in 1969, an oil refinery opened on more than 900 acres of land facing the waterfront. This confluence of fossil fuel refining and a people-friendly waterfront has long called Benicia residents to environmental attention and activism.
Now, as Benicia grapples with the closure of the 57-year-old Valero Refinery, the city faces additional challenges and opportunities. While the facility will no longer generate air pollution from refining, it is slated to become a “tank farm.”
Huge tanks store refined gasoline that is shipped in from other facilities and stored for distribution to California retail locations. This proposed storage facility status leaves in doubt efforts to clean up and redevelop the site.
Now, as Benicia grapples with the closure of the 57-year-old Valero Refinery, the city faces additional challenges and opportunities. While the facility will no longer generate air pollution from refining, it is slated to become a “tank farm.”
Huge tanks store refined gasoline that is shipped in from other facilities and stored for distribution to California retail locations. This proposed storage facility status leaves in doubt efforts to clean up and redevelop the site.
Note: Although Benicia lies in Solano County, we’re including Benicia on our city action pages because it shares environmental concerns about the Carquinez Strait with much of Contra Costa County. Benicia climate action and advocacy prove especially important because Benicia, until this year, was home to a refinery, as are some Contra Costa cities.
As part of its CCAP implementation, the City Council recently unanimously passed an industrial safety ordinance that requires more stringent air-quality monitoring for Valero and other city industries. Although Valero is closing, the ordinance will help to ensure that new and existing industries follow pollution control guidelines.
Bay Area Air District (BAAD) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) recently assessed the Valero Refining Company $82 million for more than 15 years of undisclosed discharge of hazardous materials into Benicia’s air. BAAD earmarked the money for pollution and environmental-related uses.
City officials are asking the board to let Benicia use some of the $82 million fine to fill the large budget gap that will be created when Valero closes next year. For details, see Benicia Refinery Closure: Updates About Fines.
Bay Area Air District (BAAD) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) recently assessed the Valero Refining Company $82 million for more than 15 years of undisclosed discharge of hazardous materials into Benicia’s air. BAAD earmarked the money for pollution and environmental-related uses.
City officials are asking the board to let Benicia use some of the $82 million fine to fill the large budget gap that will be created when Valero closes next year. For details, see Benicia Refinery Closure: Updates About Fines.
Also in 2024, the Valero Refinery and Amports, which runs the Port of Benicia, agreed to pay $2.38 million for mitigation of damage caused to the Carquinez Strait after the nonprofit Baykeeper gathered drone evidence that the refinery and Amports were leaking toxic petroleum coke dust (petcoke) into the air and into the Carquinez Strait.
Building on the city’s longstanding environmental awareness, residents now have opportunities to participate in protecting their future. An immediate concern is the proposed Montezuma pipeline.
350 Contra Costa Action has joined CACTI, a nonprofit environmental organization driving efforts to block a proposal to build the pipeline, which would transport dangerous pressurized carbon dioxide gas down the Carquinez Strait.
Dubbed the Montezuma Pipeline because it traverses the restored Montezuma Wetlands, it poses multiple risks to human populations and wildlife. We urge all Benicia residents to take a moment to sign a petition calling on the Benicia City Council to oppose the pipeline.
Ready to take action for strong climate solutions in Benicia? There’s always more we can do. Join our Benicia City Liaison team and help us encourage our elected officials to take a stronger stand against the effects of global heating here at home.
Follow the links to learn about each of our elected officials.
The Planning Commission meets on the second Thursday of each month at 6 pm in the council chambers to discuss and make recommendations to the city council about planning issues.
Agendas and minutes for both the council and planning commission are available here.
Take the next step. Get involved and help steward Benicia toward ever more responsible climate accountability.
Your engagement can make a significant difference in shaping the city’s future.
