This is kind of funny in a sick, 'California bites itself in the ass again' kind of way.
In fact, as long as you are not trapped in that hellhole, it's downright hilarious.
Let me set the joke up.
A long time ago, when the Earth was green, and there were more kinds of animals than you've ever seen?
The cats and rats and dummycrats in Sacramento decided it wasn't green enough, and they went hunting for oil companies. First for their rigs, then the offshore platforms, then their 'profits,' then gasoline blends. Then, when they'd finally overregulated every facet of the industry, they came for the refineries themselves, cheering wildly as one by one those belching, black plumed, flame-tipped symbols of California's once mighty fossil-fuel-driven independence were extinguished and shuttered.
The cost of the gasoline and fuel that were available skyrocketed, but who cared?
That was the price you paid for saving the Climate!
AND IT FELT ALL WARM AND FUZZY GREEN
Not only environmentally green, but greenbacks, as the taxes and fines kept the state afloat with a much-needed and effortless source of revenue rolling in.
It was all climate cult fever dreams and unicorn farts until October of last year, when Phillips 66 and Valero nearly simultaneously announced refinery closures. Phillips was shutting down their 100-year-old facility outside of Los Angeles. Less than a week later, Valero Oil announced the company was considering shutting down its last two refineries in the state. Phillips was a blow, but the Valero announcement was an icy-cold bucket of reality, as those two facilities were responsible for 14% of ALL the gasoline refined in the state.
Suddenly, shuttering all the refineries and driving oil companies out of California wasn't looking like the best-laid plan. Particularly when estimates started coming in from quickly demonized experts who said that a shortage of refined product, combined with a scheduled gas tax increase, could pop the already exorbitant price of petrol CA consumers pay into the stratosphere.
Fingers were pointing by this April as the dire consequences of losing capacity became clearer, and moved closer. That's when Valero dropped the bombshell that it would, indeed, close its major Benicia refinery within a year's time.
Due to Governor Newsom's burdensome energy regulations, Valero's Benicia refinery will be closing next year, marking a 20% drop in our refining capacity.California's gas prices are the highest in the nation, and driving out businesses will only make things worse.
Cool as a greasy cucumber salad, CA Governor Gavin Newsom pish-poshed the 'liars' fear mongering the price increases, as he quietly and desperately started massaging Valero to keep at least one of their refineries open.
In the meantime, he blamed Trump.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has directed state officials to step up efforts to guarantee reliable fuel supplies for the nation's biggest auto market, prompting oil companies to blame state policies for difficult business conditions and high pump prices.
..."I write to direct you to redouble the State's efforts to work closely with refiners on short- and long-term planning, including through high-level, immediate engagement, to help ensure that Californians continue to have access to a safe, affordable, and reliable supply of transportation fuels," Newsom wrote. He added that although gasoline demand in the state was in a gradual decline, it would exist for years to come.
The governor set a July 1 deadline for the CEC to recommend changes to the state's approach to managing fuel supplies during the energy transition and asked the agency to reinforce the state's belief that refiners can operate profitably.
...Gasoline prices in California are among the highest in the United States due to the state's reliance on imports from Latin America and the Middle East to offset declining state supplies.
In his letter, Newsom said the Trump administration was to blame for economic instability and market turmoil that was harming oil companies.
The man is so shameless.
But Valero was approachable even though they knew they were dealing with the ultimate political snek.
Personally, I think it was just for the sheer entertainment of watching the smarmy weasel sweat bullets and to count the lies he'd tell trying to slip out of blame for it. But, whatever the reason, Valero said, 'We're listening.'
A week after Valero announced plans to “idle, restructure or cease” operations at its massive Benicia oil refinery by next April, company executives said that while the plant’s closure was more than likely, it was not yet a foregone conclusion.
In an earnings call Thursday, Valero executives left open the possibility of a Hail Mary, saying they had plans to meet with state and local officials to discuss potential options.
“I do think there’s a genuine interest in California to avoid the closure,” Richard Walsh, Valero’s executive vice president, said during the call. But he quickly added, “Our current intent right now is to close the refinery.”
As the Benicia refinery is the sole source of fuel for Travis Air Force Base and employs many area residents, there are a number of people who are whining about the abrupt closure announcement. Benicia's totally woke mayor says he wishes they'd given the city more of a heads-up - okay. The city, which gets 20% of its operating budget from the refinery, is really confused why the company would leave.
Huh. Can't imagine.
...Shutting down the facility, he added, would also be a major blow to the hundreds of residents who work there, not to mention the scores of restaurants, hotels and other businesses that provide services to those workers in this city of some 27,000 residents.
...Valero dropped its bombshell April 16 announcement roughly six months after regional and state air regulators fined the company a record $82 million for secretly exceeding toxic emissions standards for at least 15 years. And last month, city leaders voted unanimously to impose moderate new safety regulations on the facility.
And people are asking how and where they are going to replace all the fuel capacity that will be lost when it shuts down.
...“California is phasing out its gasoline consumption and refiners see that coming,” said Severin Borenstein, a UC Berkeley energy economist. “We should be seriously concerned about how all that gasoline supply is going to get replaced.”
California has dramatically reduced its reliance on fossil fuels in recent decades, but most residents still drive gas-powered cars and will continue to do so for years to come, Borenstein said, even though the state already has some of the highest gas prices in the nation.
Welp.
Valero's got to be laughing their butts off right about now.
Newsom's got the state out looking for someone to take the refinery off Valero's hands.
California is learning that actions have consequences.
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) July 24, 2025
"In rare move, California steps in to find buyer for Valero refinery to avoid closure, sources say"
While the state works day in and day out to destroy oil and gas companies, CA will now have to deal with the consequences… pic.twitter.com/neyu6T07l3
The press and commentary on this sudden hunt for a buyer - and speculation over a possible state takeover if one does not materialize - have been absolutely brutal. They are just smokin' the shorts off of Newsom.
California Governor Steps In to Save Valero Refinery To Avoid Fuel Shock
California officials are stepping into the fray to urgently find a buyer for Valero’s Benicia refinery before its scheduled closure in April 2026, a rare move that underscores the state’s growing anxiety over fuel security and price volatility. According to Reuters, in an exclusive report on Wednesday, the state has opened talks with potential buyers, including HF Sinclair and at least one unnamed European energy firm, to take over the Bay Area facility and preserve in-state refining capacity.
The 149,000 barrels-per-day refinery is one of just 10 still operating in California. Its shutdown, combined with the planned 2026 closure of Valero’s Wilmington facility in Los Angeles County, could reduce the state’s gasoline and diesel production by nearly 17%.
In a position of desperation, the California Energy Commission is leading the effort to broker a deal, with support from the governor’s office. The move is an attempt to avoid severe market disruptions and cushion consumers from steep price spikes.
The stakes are particularly high. State modeling suggests that removing Benicia from the refining system could push pump prices toward $8 per gallon, particularly during summer demand peaks. Analysts warn that the closures could also reduce fuel inventories and strain supply chains across the western U.S.
Eight bucks a gallon. And it wasn't war, pestilence, or natural disaster - they did it to themselves.
Oh, YEAH. Finding this miracle buyer should be easy peasy, considering WHY Valero's leaving to begin with, which of course, no other interested buyer of an oil refinery could possibly be aware of.
John spent a lot of time discussing how Gov. Newsom is looking for a buyer for the Valero oil refinery in Benicia, CA & this last ditch effort to find a buyer is quite hilarious when it was his policies & regulations that completely ruined California’s oil industry! @KFIAM640 pic.twitter.com/mviisY5gnB
— The John Kobylt Show (@JohnKobyltRadio) July 24, 2025
...Newsom's pretending like we have to be protected from these alien surges who are spiking the price of oil. No, it's YOU, it's YOU, it's one hundred percent YOU!...
Eight bucks a gallon, if you can get it.
Good luck out there to the governor and his crack team of energy transition disaster experts.
The scramble is on.
