Benicia can proceed with Valero refinery closure, city official says

"Benicia can now proceed with the closure of the refinery in April or possibly sooner."

"Certainly as a city manager and longtime resident I'm disappointed that a solution wasn't made. This is not only going to impact Benicia, but California as well. It's frustrating, because the city was finally in a position to turn the corner. Now we're going to have significant and seismic changes, the city manager said."

"It's a problem we're going to have to solve and it's certainly difficult, Giuliani said. But while a difficult challenge, Benicia has been given the pen to be the author of the next chapters of the cities history."

Valero Refining Company-California submitted notice last April to idle, restructure, or cease refining operations at the Benicia Refinery by the end of next April. Benicia City Manager Mario Giuliani indicated the city can proceed with the refinery closure in April or possibly sooner. State officials explored options to keep the facility open, but a viable option that aligned with Valero's interests did not emerge. The closure will prompt significant local and statewide impacts. Benicia's $60 million general fund must be reduced by $7.7 million by July. Senate Bill 237 passed both legislative houses and now heads to Governor Newsom.

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