On Wednesday, Senator Suzette Martinez Valladares joined her Republican colleagues in the California State Senate in sending a letter urging Governor Gavin Newsom to immediately convene a special session of the Legislature to address the fallout from the impending closure of Valero’s Benicia refinery, scheduled for April. 

This marks the second major refinery shutdown in California in the past six months.

“Bad policy has consequences,” said Senator Valladares. “California’s extreme regulatory environment is forcing refineries to shut down, reducing fuel supply and driving gas prices higher. The Governor and legislative Democrats talk about affordability, but they refuse to acknowledge that it is their own policies that are making everyday life more expensive for working families.” Valero’s Benicia refinery is one of the largest in Northern California, accounting for nearly 10 percent of the state’s total refining capacity.

Combined with the recently shuttered Phillips 66 refinery in Los Angeles, these two facilities produced roughly 20 percent of California’s gasoline supply.

Their closures will further tighten fuel markets, disrupt supply chains, and push prices even higher as the state becomes increasingly reliant on imported fuel and alternative sources to meet demand. “There’s a reason gas prices continue to fall across the country while Californians keep paying more,” Valladares added. “If the Governor fails to act, Californians could soon be facing $8-per-gallon gas. That cost won’t stop at the pump—it will ripple through the economy, raising the price of food, goods, and services.”

Phillips 66 cited long-term sustainability concerns and unfavorable market dynamics as reasons for closing its Los Angeles refinery.

Valero has pointed to mounting regulatory pressures and an increasingly challenging operating environment.

The message from both companies is clear: California’s policies have made it nearly impossible to continue doing business in this state.

Ed. Note: The above information was provided to KHTS Radio by Valladares’ Office. 

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.