An oil refinery defined life in this quaint California city. What happens when it's gone?

"For nearly 60 years, the refinery has loomed over every aspect of life in Benicia, exerting outsized influence on its economy and politics, while posing serious risks to public health. The Benicia oil refinery, which the Texas oil company Valero bought from Exxon in 2000, thrived in an era when fossil fuels reigned largely unchecked over the US offering reliable local taxes, well-paying jobs and steady economic opportunities."

"As California pivots to meet its ambitious clean energy goals, refineries like this one are on the decline. The state has pledged it will be carbon-neutral by 2045, dramatically reducing its dependence on fossil fuels. Last April, the multibillion dollar company announced plans to idle, restructure or cease operations within a year, citing California's tough regulatory and enforcement environment."

"The company confirmed in January it would begin winding down operations and permanently idle most processing units by April, laying off nearly 70% of its payroll about 240 employees in the process. The move, in effect, seals Benicia's fate as a post-refinery city, positioning it as a reluctant test case of whether a place long defined by the oil and gas industry can successfully reinvent itself."

Benicia, a small town north of San Francisco, has been economically dominated by a 900-acre Valero oil refinery for nearly 60 years. The refinery provided stable employment, tax revenue, and business opportunities while remaining largely hidden from the picturesque downtown. As California pursues aggressive clean energy goals and carbon neutrality by 2045, the refinery has become economically unviable. Valero announced plans to idle operations, with permanent shutdown beginning in April and layoffs affecting approximately 70% of the workforce, roughly 240 employees. This closure positions Benicia as a test case for post-industrial economic transition in communities historically dependent on fossil fuel industries.

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