Refinery Closures Present Risk for Higher Gasoline Prices on the West Coast - CleanTechnica

California is poised to lose 17% of its oil refinery capacity within the next year due to the planned closures of two major refineries: Phillips 66’s 139,000 barrels-per-day Wilmington refinery and Valero’s 145,000 b/d Benicia refinery. These closures continue a trend of declining refinery capacity on the West Coast and are expected to increase fuel price volatility in the region. Although these refineries represent less than 2% of total U.S. refining capacity, they account for a significant 17% of California’s refinery capacity and 11% of the West Coast’s (PADD 5) capacity, making their exit particularly impactful. The West Coast’s limited logistical connectivity to other U.S. refining hubs, such as the Gulf Coast, means that lost supply cannot be easily compensated by domestic sources. As a result, the West Coast will likely rely more heavily on imports from Asia, especially for jet fuel and gasoline. California’s unique CARBOB gasoline blendstock