City Council Approves Chevron Refinery Project

The Richmond City Council on Tuesday approved a $1 billion modernization project at Chevron’s Richmond refinery after the oil giant agreed to increase the investment it will make in the community.

The project passed 5-0, with two abstentions, after Chevron agreed to up its community investments to $90 million over the next several years and agreed to other concessions, including the replacement of aging steel pipes carrying high-sulfur oil and the installation of air monitors and sensors.

Chevron had previously agreed to pledge $60 million over a 10-year period for community programs aimed at lowering greenhouse gas emissions, creating green jobs, providing job training and sending local students to college. Last month, the city’s Planning Commission ruled the project should include the pipe replacements, an increase in the amount pledged for community programs and a steeper reduction of emissions.

The project will replace the refinery’s 1960-era hydrogen plant with modern equipment and allow the refinery to produce more crude oil blends with high sulfur levels, according to Chevron officials. Opponents to the project argued Chevron isn’t going far enough to address the environmental impacts of the project. The project has been a contentious topic for several years and hundreds of people, both proponents and opponents of the modernization, have spoken out on the topic and attended council meetings addressing the project.

Andres Soto with the advocacy group Communities for a Better Environment said he’s disappointed the City Council didn’t hold Chevron to all of the Planning Commission’s recommendations, including a green jobs initiative and the adoption of on-shore power usage for ships in port.

“We want Chevron to operate the refinery in a cleaner and safer manner,” Soto said. “These politicians are more afraid of Chevron than the people’s safety.”

Chevron spokeswoman Melissa Ritchie said the company is pleased with Tuesday’s vote. Ritchie said there was a lot of support in the community for the project, and the company’s concessions, including upping the initial investment pledge from $30 million to $60 million and then $90 million, was a response to some concerns raised by residents.

“We listened to the community and the comments they made,” she said. “This is a good example of us working together.”

Related article: City Council to Vote Tonight on $1 Billion Chevron Refinery Project

—By Bay City News