Martinez refinery to start producing biofuels instead of crude oil

MARTINEZ — Over the objections of environmentalists, Contra Costa County supervisors today gave Marathon Petroleum permission to start producing liquid biofuels at its Martinez refinery.

The refinery, which at one point produced almost 18% of the fossil fuel consumed in California, was idled in late 2020 because of the pandemic, resulting in a mass layoff of more than 700 workers.

Now, instead of refining crude oil, Marathon soon will begin processing vegetable oils and animal fats into renewable diesel and hire 1,400 people to do the job.

More than a dozen Bay Area environmental groups appealed the county Planning Commission’s approval of the switch in March.

They urged the supervisors to grant their appeal, saying biofuels production would strain food supplies and contribute to deforestation — practices they argued are just as destructive to the climate as burning fossil fuels.

But the supervisors decided the project is a compromise that could help the county reach its target reduction of carbon emissions by 2030.

“If they wanted to, they could go right back to refining gasoline,” Supervisor Candace Andersen said. “And I know a lot of people in the community would love to see that happen given the very, very high gas prices we have right now in the United States.

“I think (this project) will benefit us as a community, and continue to provide jobs while reducing the impact on the environment,” Andersen added.

Another oil refinery in Rodeo, owned by Phillips 66, also had received the commission’s approval in March to begin producing biofuels. The supervisors are hearing the environmentalists’ appeal of that proposal this afternoon.

This story will be updated.