As oil industry in California wanes, what will become of shuttered refineries?

"The massive Phillips 66 Los Angeles Refinery, which comprised 659 acres across two facilities in Carson and Wilmington, connected by a 5-mile pipeline, officially closed on Dec. 31. The closure has further threatened an industry car-centric California has relied upon for generations. That's because it's not the first closure in recent years and it won't be the last."

"California's oil empire, it seems, is cracking, if not yet crumbling. The once-dominant industry, which in California dates back more than 150 years ago, has long been on the decline. Oil fields once carpeted the landscape, from Brea to Signal Hill, but have since been whittled down or, in some cases, erased entirely replaced by parks or houses."

"Despite being third in refining capacity, the state was seventh in crude oil production in 2024, the most-recent year with available data, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, behind traditional powerhouses Texas, North Dakota and Alaska, but also New Mexico and Wyoming."

California's oil industry, dominant for over 150 years, faces significant decline as major refineries close. The Phillips 66 Los Angeles Refinery, a 659-acre facility across Carson and Wilmington, officially closed on December 31, 2024. Despite California ranking third nationally in refining capacity, it produces only seventh in crude oil, trailing Texas, North Dakota, Alaska, New Mexico, and Wyoming. Oil fields that once dominated the landscape have been replaced by parks and residential areas. Industry advocates blame California's strict environmental regulations, which Governor Newsom targets for further reform. Multiple refinery closures are occurring, including Marathon Martinez idling and Valero in Benicia anticipated to close, threatening an industry California has depended on for generations.

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