Residents and city officials in Benicia are raising important questions as Valero’s Benicia Refinery is slated to close in April 2026. So far, the city has received limited information about what comes next. What is known is that the site is expected to continue operating as a fuel import and storage facility (“tank farm”), with refined gasoline brought in, stored, and distributed from existing tanks.
At the same time, there has been a significant development around fine funds tied to the refinery’s long history of air pollution. In January, the Bay Area Air District (BAAD) approved revised guidelines that make it easier for Benicia to access its share of the $82 million in penalties assessed to Valero. Under the new rules, Benicia can apply directly for up to $40 million, without needing to partner with a nonprofit, a change city officials say will help them respond more quickly to a projected $10 million annual budget shortfall once refinery tax revenues decline.
The Air District is distributing about $60 million total to impacted communities. While Benicia can independently apply for part of that funding, the remaining funds will still require partnerships with nonprofit organizations and must be used for health and environmental purposes, subject to Air District approval. Potential uses discussed by city leaders include electric city vehicles, charging infrastructure, and incentives for residents to replace gas appliances with cleaner electric options.
Despite this progress, many questions remain. City officials have expressed concern about safety risks associated with storing refined gasoline, how long fuel imports will continue, how the site will eventually be dismantled, and whether long-term fuel storage could limit future reuse of the property.
The good news: there is still time for community input. As Benicia begins conversations about how these funds should be spent, residents are encouraged to engage early and share priorities that support health, safety, and a cleaner energy future.
Read the full blog here for more details and ongoing updates.
In 2024, the City of Brentwood took an important step by banning new oil and gas drilling within city limits (94513). This matters in a fast-growing community where homes, schools, and hospitals are close to areas targeted by oil and gas developers, and where wildfire smoke and poor air quality already affect daily life.
But the work isn’t finished. Loopholes in the Contra Costa County General Plan could still allow drilling just outside Brentwood’s city boundaries, on nearby unincorporated land. And pollution doesn’t stop at a city line. Air emissions, truck traffic, noise, spill risks, and groundwater impacts can all drift back into Brentwood neighborhoods.
One key tool in this conversation is the Urban Limit Line (ULL), a voter-approved boundary that helps limit sprawl and protect open space. The ULL is up for renewal on the June primary ballot, and updated boundaries would better align with city limits. That’s important progress, but the ULL alone won’t fully protect Brentwood. Stronger county-level land-use rules are still needed to prevent drilling near homes, schools, and water sources.
Why this matters:
There is still time to act, and community voices matter.
Here’s how to get involved:
A city ban is a strong start, but county policies must back it up. Protecting Brentwood means closing the gaps that still put families at risk.
Read the full article and take action here.
In 2023, the Bay Area Air District adopted strong, science-based standards to reduce dangerous air pollution from fossil fuel appliances in homes and buildings. These rules, Regulation 9, Rules 9-4 and 9-6, set zero nitrogen oxide (NOx) emission limits for new appliances, taking effect in 2027 for water heaters and 2029 for furnaces.
These protections matter. Pollution from gas appliances contributes to asthma, heart disease, and other serious health problems, especially for children, seniors, and communities already overburdened by poor air quality.
As the implementation dates approach, the Air District is considering common-sense updates to ensure the rules work for everyone, including reasonable protections for low-income households. Unfortunately, the gas industry and its allies are using this reopening as an opportunity to try to weaken or roll back the rules altogether.
We’re asking residents to speak up and urge Air District Board members to:
If you haven’t already signed the petition, use the link to send a letter to your Air District Board representative. You can personalize it, or send it as-is.
Add your name to the BACA petition and send a letter today
Contra Costa County link here
Alameda County link here
Clean air standards save lives. Let’s make sure the board stays strong.
Starting April 1, the City of Walnut Creek will ban the use of gas-powered leaf blowers, marking an important step toward cleaner air and quieter neighborhoods.
Gas leaf blowers are a significant source of local air pollution, emitting smog-forming pollutants and fine particles that can worsen asthma and other respiratory conditions. They’re also loud, disruptive, and often affect the people who use them and those living nearby, especially children, seniors, and outdoor workers.
The new policy was approved by the City Council in November and will soon be reflected in the municipal code. A summary of the ordinance is already available on the City’s Leaf Blower webpage, with more detailed information to be added when the ban takes effect.
This is a smart, practical example of local action making a real difference. Electric alternatives are widely available, quieter, and far less polluting, and city policies like this help speed the transition.
We’d love to see other Contra Costa County cities follow Walnut Creek’s lead by phasing out gas-powered equipment and prioritizing clean air, public health, and community well-being. If you want to help by joining a campaign in your city, reach out to us at info@350contracostaaction.org, and let us know which city you live in, and we will get back to you.
Learn more on the City’s Leaf Blower page: walnutcreekca.gov/leafblowers.
350 Contra Costa Climate Action is helping promote the fifth annual California Climate Policy Summit, hosted by The Climate Center, on Monday, April 13, 2026, in Sacramento.
At a time when federal climate progress is under attack, this summit brings together California leaders to focus on what’s next — and what’s possible. Elected officials, climate advocates, environmental justice leaders, scientists, business innovators, and policy experts will gather to share strategies that keep California moving forward on science-based climate solutions.
The summit is a chance to connect across sectors, learn how policymakers are accelerating the clean energy transition, and explore approaches that support healthier communities and a more affordable, resilient future for all Californians.
For more information and to register: https://theclimatecenter.org/events/california-climate-policy-summit-2026/
Thank you—
350 Contra Costa Action
Follow us on Facebook, X, and Bluesky
The time for climate action is now!
©350 Contra Costa Action
This message has not been expressly authorized, requested, or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate, candidate’s committee or their agents, or by any ballot issue committee.
Created with NationBuilder, software for leaders.
