US EditionCalifornia's Shrinking Fuel Industry May Bring Pricier Gas
- Valero Energy plans closing a San Francisco plant by April 2026 and studies options for its Los Angeles refinery.
- High operating costs and state regulations prompt these moves, following other refiners winding down operations.
- The San Francisco plant processes 145,000 barrels daily; the Los Angeles facility handles 85,000 barrels.
- Valero wrote down $1.1 billion on California refineries, stating asset values "were not recoverable."
- Reducing capacity, nearing a third by mid-2026, leads to volatile supply disruptions and high gasoline prices.
16 Articles
16 Articles
New Oil Drilling Permits in California Drop 97 Percent in 5 Years: What to Know
BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—As the whir of pumpjacks break the silence at the Poso Creek oil fields near Bakersfield in Kern County, the crisp morning air is unmistakably clean and fresh as crews monitor the equipment that measures any possible emissions. In 2019, Kern County ranked first among California’s oil-producing counties and seventh overall in the nation with 76 active oil fields producing 119 million barrels of oil and 129 billion cubic feet o…
East Bay Times
The Mercury newsValero signals another California refinery’s future in doubt
By Nathan Risser, Joe Carroll and Barbara Powell | Bloomberg Valero Energy Corp. took a $1.1 billion writedown on its California oil refineries, casting doubt on the company’s future as a fuelmaker in the most-populous US state. The pre-tax charge reflects Valero’s conclusion that “the carrying values of these assets were not recoverable,” according to a statement Thursday. The company’s Los Angeles refinery may face a similar fate as a San Fran…
California’s Refinery Situation Looks Like It Will Get Worse
Valero announced that it plans to close its San Francisco-area oil refinery in Benicia, California next year. It submitted a notice to the California Energy Commission of its intent to idle, restructure, or cease operations at the refinery, whose average throughput capacity is 145,000 barrels per day, by April 2026. The Valero refinery closure will reduce the state’s gasoline production capacity by nearly 9% and affect more than 400 jobs. Refine…
Refinery safety rules in California face rollback after industry settlement
More than a decade after a catastrophic refinery fire sickened thousands, California regulators are weighing a rollback of key safety reforms under a legal settlement with oil lobbyists.Jim Morris and Molly Peterson report for Public Health Watch.In short:A secretive legal settlement between California officials and the Western States Petroleum Association could roll back safety rules enacted after the 2012 Chevron refinery fire in Richmond, whi…
GOP Lawmaker Sounds the Alarm: Blue State's Fuel Crisis Is About to Get Dramatically Worse
Californians may soon face even higher gas prices as Valero announces plans to shut down its Benicia refinery in 2026. The closure threatens hundreds of jobs and could worsen fuel shortages, which critics blame on the state’s aggressive energy regulations. Key Facts: Valero Energy Corp. plans to close its Benicia refinery near San Francisco by April 2026, putting over 400 jobs at risk. Rep. Vince Fong (R-Calif.) warns the shutdown is part of a …
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