Refineries
Benicia Refinery
3400 East 2nd Street
Benicia,
CA 94510-1097
United States
Overview
The Valero Benicia Refinery is located northeast of San Francisco on the Carquinez Strait of San Francisco Bay. It processes sour crude oils into gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and asphalt. The refinery receives crude oil feedstocks via a marine dock and crude oil pipelines connected to a southern California crude oil delivery system. Most of the refinery's products are distributed via pipeline and truck rack into Northern California markets.
Since Valero’s acquisition in 2000, the facility has been continually improved and upgraded.
Benicia By the Numbers
- ~410 employees
- 170,000 barrels per day (bpd) throughput capacity
- Produces California Reformulated Blendstock Gasoline for Oxygenate Blending (CARBOB), which meets CARB specifications when blended with ethanol
- Benicia's cogeneration system can generate 50 megawatts of power. It produces both electricity and thermal energy or steam, and is recycled back into the refining process for other uses.
- Contributed more than $966,400 for the 2024 United Way campaign
Snapshots of Benicia Refinery & Community
In Our Community
Benicia Employees Give Back
Volunteering Time
Employees donate more than 4,500 hours per year to local charitable work.
Charitable Donations
- The Benicia Refinery gives more than $1 million each year to local charities.
- Over $18 million contributed to Northern California community stakeholders over the past 10 years.
Community Partnerships
We partner with community organizations, including:
- Benicia Teen Center
- Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano
- Benicia Community Action Council
Environmentally Responsible Operations
- Since 2000, Valero has spent $1.6 billion on infrastructure projects, such as flare gas recovery
- The Benicia refinery captures clean sediment dredged from its dock area to raise the elevation of nearby subsided wetlands, which helps protect and recover wildlife and plant species
- Increase energy efficiency from the cogeneration unit at the refinery and the grid-independent fuel cell currently under development
- Reduced sulfur dioxide emissions by 95% and nitrogen oxide emissions by 55%
- Robust air monitoring system in place with air quality information available online (link below)
Off
Safety Awards & Honors
- American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) Innovation Award recipient for 2022 and also earned the Safety Achievement Award for 2020, 2021 and 2022
- Recipient of the Valero Chairman’s Safety, Reliability and Environmental Awards
- Participates in annual emergency preparedness drills with City of Benicia and other regulators
Local Information
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About Benicia
Founded in 1847, the Wild West town of Benicia went on to serve as the capital of California from 1853-1854 and has been home to notable figures such as author Jack London and professional baseball player Willie Calhoun. Today, more than 27,000 people on the Carquinez Strait in San Francisco Bay call Benicia home and partake in year-round cultural opportunities and recreational activities in scenic surroundings.
In addition to its own charms, Benicia enjoys being centrally located between San Francisco, Wine Country, Silicon Valley, and Sacramento.
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Things to Do in Benicia
- Fine Arts & Craft Fair
- Opening Day on the Straits
- Classic Car Show
- Waterfront Festival
- Certified Farmers Market
- Napa Valley - less than an hour away
- Kayaking and paddleboard yoga on the Benicia Waterfront
- Shoreline fishing (white sturgeon, starry flounder, striped bass, salmon)
- Parks and Botanical Gardens
- Cycling along the 50-mile Carquinez Strait Scenic Loop
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Weather
Benicia enjoys plenty of sunshine and warmth, ideal for outdoor activities. The winters are brief and mild with occasional rain showers.
Temperatures typically vary from 41°F to 83°F throughout the year.
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Proximity to Major Cities
- Concord: 15 miles
- Fairfield: 25 miles
- Napa: 30 miles
- Oakland: 25 miles
- Sacramento: 61 miles
- San Francisco: 38 miles
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Helpful Links
- Visit Benicia
- Benicia City Schools
- Benicia Chamber of Commerce
- Benicia Marina
- The City of Benicia
- Benicia Magazine (things to do, food and drinks)
Contact Us
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General Inquiries
Have Questions or Comments?
We care about your opinion and we’d love to hear from you!
Paul Adler
Director Community Relations & Government Affairs
Valero Benicia Refinery
3400 East 2nd Street
Benicia, CA 94510
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In An Emergency
Emergency Notifications
Notification information to come.
