California is a major oil refining state, mostly making fuels for our own use but also for export. California and local governments have policies requiring a transition away from fossil fuels in the electricity, transportation, and oil extraction sectors. But California has no requirements for phasing out oil refineries — the largest industrial fossil fuel polluters in the state.
This webinar outlined how refineries operate and produce emissions and how they are regulated (or not regulated). We heard from fenceline communities about how living near refineries impacts their health as well as their visions for phasing out refining. We also heard from labor experts and state officials about planning a worker-friendly transition away from refineries toward clean energy.
Senior Scientist at Communities for a Better Environment
Julia May is a Senior Scientist at Communities for a Better Environment (CBE), providing engineering analysis and regulatory policy development on oil refineries and other industrial pollution sources. She is deeply involved in planning the transition away from dependence on oil refineries toward clean energy replacements to protect communities and the planet from climate and health destruction. For the last 35 years, she has provided technical support for CBE and other Environmental Justice organizations, demystifying refinery operations, their health-harming pollution, and seeking alternatives. She helped develop best-in-nation oil refinery regulations to prevent accidents and flaring and to minimize continuous emissions from refinery storage tanks, ships, boilers, heaters, and more.
Organizer in Wilmington for Communities for a Better Environment
Alicia Rivera is an organizer for Communities for a Better Environment in Wilmington and has been a lead Oil Refinery Organizer in California for over 20 years. Her initiation to refinery disasters was the former Texaco, now Marathon refinery that spectacularly exploded in the late 1990s, physically damaging homes and people’s health, aggravating respiratory illnesses and ability to breathe. Since then, Alicia witnessed countless explosions, flaring, and neighbors’ health harms, and was instrumental in winning regulations and policies at the regional Air District and the State to clean up refineries. She is actively involved in work toward refinery phaseout.
Policy Director for the Mayor of Richmond and former United Steelworkers 5 President
Brian White is a U.S. Navy veteran and currently serves as the Policy Director in the office of Richmond Mayor Eduardo Martinez. Prior to his current position, Mr. White was a 29-year member of United Steelworkers and Oil, Chemical, and Atomic Workers unions, while working at the Chevron Refinery in Richmond, CA. His work at the refinery included operating some of the most complex and difficult units in the refinery. Mr. White also led a Union Safety program at the refinery for three years and trained plant operators on process procedures and regulatory requirements.
Commissioner Siva Gunda is serving his first term on the California Energy Commission. He was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom in February 2021. Before joining the CEC, he served in a variety of capacities at the Energy Efficiency Institute at the University of California, Davis, including as the director of research.
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