Valero’s Benicia Refinery – California Globe

Newsom’s Green Dreams Meet Reality

April 20, 2026 1:30 pmApril 20, 2026 3:40 pm

I remember the day the lights went out. January 2001, middle of a trading session, and California’s rolling blackouts killed the power on the floor. We time-stamped tickets by hand and surrendered them to operations for manual reconciliation. My book...

Ringside: Can California’s Oil Industry Survive?

February 5, 2026 8:00 amFebruary 5, 2026 11:20 am

Even confirmed skeptics should be impressed at the rapid improvement in the price and performance of EVs. A new 2026 Nissan Leaf sells for just under $30,000, and can charge in 30 minutes. That’s still not competitive with affordable gasoline powered...

Ringside: Lines for Gas Coming to California

November 6, 2025 2:45 amNovember 6, 2025 2:46 am

Achieving California’s goal of net zero by 2045 requires rapidly transitioning away from combustible fuel. It’s a risky strategy. If the transition happens too fast, Californians confront energy shortages and high prices. When it comes to electricity, Newsom has so...

Valero Energy Announces Plans to Exit California, Incurs $1.1 Billion Charges to Refinery Operations

April 16, 2025 5:50 pmApril 16, 2025 5:51 pm

Citing low operating margins, increased operating costs and a growingly harsh regulatory environment, including a state mandated moratorium on the sale of internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035, and in the wake of an $85 million fine related to “egregious...