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In Benicia, Emissions Measure Is Personal
2010-10-15 08:15:24.987 GMT
By KATHARINE MIESZKOWSKI
Oct. 15 (New York Times) -- In most of California, the
arguments over Proposition 23, which would suspend the state's
landmark global-warming law, are dominated by theoretical claims
about the measure's potential effect on jobs and the environment.
For Benicia residents, Proposition 23 is personal.
The town is home to the Valero Benicia petroleum refinery,
one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases in the state.
Valero, based in Texas, is a key sponsor of Proposition 23 and
has contributed more than $4 million to the campaign.
Valero is among Benicia's largest employers, and taxes it
pays account for about a fifth of the city's budget.
Despite this, the city's Community Sustainability Commission
came out against Proposition 23 last month, recommending that the
City Council adopt a resolution opposing the measure.
"I think that we had to take a stand, or we might as well
resign," Larry Lamoreux, a commissioner, said in an interview.
The City Council, however, did not share the sentiment. The
council last week voted against the resolution 3 to 2, on the
grounds that it was outside the city's purview to weigh in on the
statewide proposition.
"The reality is that Valero is our corporate neighbor, and
they are a huge stabilizing force of property tax and sales tax
revenues," said Alan Schwartzman, one of the council members who
voted with the majority. "Why are we poking them in the eye?
Let's let the state voters decide."
Company officials were not shy about lobbying the city
government to remain neutral on Proposition 23. "We have held the
view that it's not appropriate for the city to weigh in on this
particular issue that has such a substantial impact on our
business," said Chris Howe, a spokesman for the refinery.
Mayor Elizabeth Patterson of Benicia, a vocal opponent of
Proposition 23, accuses Valero of doing more than just lobbying.
The city has been trying to lease 1.2 acres of land owned by
Valero for a solar installation to power a water-pumping station.
Before the council voted on Proposition 23, Ms. Patterson said
that a company executive told her that Valero would rent the
unused property for $140,000 a year. She said that amount would
doom the installation.
"The message was delivered with vitriol," she said. "It was
clear it would be punitive." Mr. Howe denied that the city
government's debate about Proposition 23 has had any bearing on
the prospects for the lease.
Benicia, like dozens of Bay Area communities, has adopted
its own goals for rolling back greenhouse-gas emissions. While
Valero is by far the biggest source of these emissions in the
city, the financing for Benicia's efforts to fight climate change
comes from Valero.
As part of a $14 million settlement agreement, the company
is paying for much of the implementation of Benicia's
climate-action plan over the next five years.
-0- Oct/15/2010 08:15 GMT
