The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors signed off on a second biofuels conversion project on Tuesday, denying an appeal filed regarding the county planning commission’s approval of the Phillips 66 Rodeo refinery becoming a renewable fuel plant.
Earlier Tuesday, the board also unanimously approved a similar transition of the Martinez Marathon refinery.
Both refineries will produce renewable diesel fuel, renewable components for blending with other transportation fuels, and renewable fuel gas.
Environmental and community groups appealed the project, saying its environmental impact report was faulty. They also said the county isn’t mitigating significant environmental problems the projects could cause, as well as ones left over by decades of oil refining at the site.
“The great news is that we’re in transition right now,” said supervisor Diane Burgis. “We are working towards a more environmentally friendly transportation system. But it is a transition and, as people have pointed out, there is a time where we’re still going to be needing to use fuels before we can get to electrification.”
“We all need to get to electric; we need to get to it as soon as possible,” said supervisor John Gioia. “The reality is that’s not going to happen until later in the 2040s. There will be a need for these types of liquid fuels that have lower carbon intensity.”
County staff recommended the project, based on its consistency with the county’s general plan and area zoning, and that the project would improve air quality and reduce hazardous materials in the area.
Vote all these stupid idiots out!!! They are not doing what the people want. They are trying to fast track it because midterms are coming and changes are a coming!
Praying for batteries that get smaller and go three to four times longer.
One thing that stands out regarding this “switch” to new power/fuels has indicated one thing;
This change is going to result in “these” people fighting forever. And it looks like it will be a lot of drama! Not even the environmentalist can agree with a bold takeover of a local business, for the betterment of the World… LOL.
I still haven’t heard where all this electricity for the cars will come from. California can’t keep the lights on now, for goodness sake!
That’s what I’m wondering too!
Why, it’s what the companies want to do. So let them.
Good vote if you ask me.
biofuels conversion project
Can someone explain what that is. To me it sounds like a waste of time and energy.
“They also said the county isn’t mitigating significant environmental problems the projects could cause, as well as ones left over by decades of oil refining at the site.”
Why didn’t the county or state have those fuel companies clean up their own mess?