Planning for Refinery Closures That Benefit Workers, Communities, and the Environment webinar – 31 July 2025
The Clean Coalition is a partner organization for this webinar, which takes place on 31 July 2025 at 10am.
The Climate Center believes in thriving, healthy communities. They envision a future where everyone in California enjoys clean air and water, renewable and reliable energy, healthy food, and abundant nature. California has the tools and the know-how to make this vision a reality if our elected leaders summon the political will. It is time we put people back at the heart of policy. In doing so, we can keep our friends and loved ones safe from worsening climate disasters, create millions of family-sustaining jobs, and give everyone the chance to thrive in the clean energy economy.
Webinar: Planning for Refinery Closures That Benefit Workers, Communities, and the Environment
Thursday, 31 July 2025 at 10am to 11:30am PST
California is a major petroleum refining state. However, two refineries — Phillps 66 in Wilmington and Valero in Benicia — have announced plans to close at the end of 2025 and early 2026, respectively. Together, these refineries produce about 17 percent of the state’s gasoline supply. If both refineries close as planned, the state could face gasoline supply shortfalls in 2026 and beyond. These announcements also raise environmental, economic, safety, workforce, equity, and other concerns.
In this webinar, experts will use these two pending closures as case studies to explore the potential supply challenge, how local governments across the state can recover lost tax revenues, and how policymakers can ensure worker and community safety. We’ll also consider what kinds of benefits might emerge for nearby communities as refineries are closed, cleaned up, and transitioned to other uses. Lastly, we’ll cover the challenges that exist for skilled refinery workers trying to transition to climate-friendly jobs. Join us to hear from local government, state agency, environmental justice, and labor representatives.
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Featured Speakers
Connie Cho
Connie is a Senior Policy Advisor for the Asia Pacific Environmental Network (APEN). As a movement lawyer, she is passionate about democratizing access to the law and the power to govern. Prior to joining APEN, Connie was the Richmond Staff Attorney and Justice Catalyst Legal Fellow at Communities for a Better Environment. She also served as a member of the statewide Environmental Justice Advisory Committee for the 2022 Update to the AB 32 Climate Change Scoping Plan.
Steve Young
Steve Young was elected to the Benicia City Council in 2016. He was appointed Vice-Mayor from 2016-2018. In 2020, Steve was elected Mayor, and re-elected in 2024. Steve currently serves as a Board member on the Bay Area Air Quality Air Management District (BAAQMD), California Council of Governments (CALCOG), and others. Steve has spent 28 years in local governments, managing various projects in the fields of Community Development, Redevelopment, Affordable Housing, Neighborhood Preservation, and Economic Development in California and Virginia.
Josh Anijar
Josh Anijar has been the Executive Director of the Contra Costa Labor Council, a federation of 85 unions, since 2019. Anijar is a member of Teamsters 665. Josh started his career in Labor in 2007 at the Florida AFL-CIO as their field organizer for the West Central Florida Federation of Labor, the Central Florida AFL-CIO, the Space Coast AFL-CIO and the Volusia/Flagler Labor Council.
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