California is a major petroleum refining state. However, two refineries — Phillips 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 used 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 also considered what kinds of benefits might emerge for nearby communities as refineries are closed, cleaned up, and transitioned to other uses. Lastly, we covered the challenges that exist for skilled refinery workers trying to transition to climate-friendly jobs. Watch to hear from local government, state agency, environmental justice, and labor representatives.
Senior Policy Advisor at Asia Pacific Environmental Network (APEN)
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 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), Solano County Mayor’s Committee, Solano County Water Agency (SCWA), Solano Transit (SolTrans), and Solano Transportation Authority (STA). 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 various cities in California and Virginia.
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. At the end of 2010, Anijar became the Communications Director for the Florida AFL-CIO based in Tallahassee. After the 2012 election, he accepted a position with the AFL-CIO as their Senior Field Representative for California. He soon joined the AFL-CIO’s GOLD Team as their Western Region Represenative which focused on organizational restructuring and leadership development.
Special Advisor to Vice Chair of the California Energy Commission
Theresa Keates is a biological oceanographer turned environmental and energy policy advisor. She earned her BS in Biology from Western Washington University, then completed an MS and a PhD in Ocean Sciences at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She lives in Sacramento with her cat Mira and spends most of her free time enjoying the outdoors.
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