Benicia news: Valero workers, broken solar panels, the port & the $700m question

Monica Vaughan

— 2 min read
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Benicia news: Valero workers, broken solar panels, the port & the $700m question
(Credit: City of Benicia)

Welcome to The Benicia Bridge newsletter. 

Weather: Rain and thunderstorms are expected through Sunday. Benicia is preparing with sandbags available for residents at the Benicia Corp Yard (2400 East Second St.) and East E St. parking lot off First St. 

Here’s a quote of the week: 

"Would you spend $700 million on capital projects supporting an industry or an operator that doesn't provide any significant financial contribution in the city?” – Benicia City Councilmember Trevor Macenski reacting to the Port Modernization Plan. 

Here’s what happened this week: 

The city’s questionable financial future was top of mind at a city council meeting Tuesday night. 

→ Council members seemed to brace themselves as a consultant pitched pricy capital improvement projects to the privately-owned Port of Benicia (Read more here). 

→ Councilmember Lionel Largaespada – deemed “our contract nerd” by Mayor Steve Young – worked to cut costs in a contract to maintain the city’s aging solar panels. Some have been broken for years. (Read more here).

Context: With Valero’s Benicia Refinery slated to close this month, the city anticipates losing significant tax revenue (an estimated $10 million a year). 

Speaking of Valero, NBC reported that two dozen workers went to the emergency room with burns when black liquid rained down on them for about five minutes from the flare stack incident on March 26. Cal-OSHA is investigating. A quick review of OSHA records show this is the second investigation into worker safety opened at the facility this year. Last year, Valero racked up at least 11 violations amounting to $80,000 in penalties for worker safety violations at the Benicia refinery. Valero is contesting the findings. 

Read more about the April 7 City Council meeting, here: 

  • Should Benicia invest to modernize the privately-owned port? Read here.
  • Fixing the city’s broken solar panels is pricey. Losing the power costs more. Read here.

Upcoming dates to know about: 

April 14, 4:30 p.m.: Valero Community Advisory Panel (CAP) Meeting, 610 Industrial Way

April 15, 4 p.m.: Industrial Safety Citizen Oversight Commission. City Hall. Agenda here.

April 20: Registration for Benicia’s Summer recreation programs begins at 8 a.m. for residents. I hear there may be a rush on swim classes.

This newsletter was written by Monica Vaughan and edited by Laura López González. Feedback? Story idea? News tip? Reach us news@thebeniciabridge.com.

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