Protecting communities in California’s oil refinery phase-out
California’s transition away from fossil fuels has rapidly restructured the state's oil refining industry. As refineries convert to biofuels or shut down entirely, there is a growing risk that, without proactive intervention and inclusive stakeholder engagement, these sites will be abandoned in a contaminated state. This could particularly impact low-income communities historically burdened by pollution. This project seeks to develop legal strategies to assess environmental remediation needs, analyze the financial state of the refining industry, and convene a series of Uncommon Dialogues with owners, community leaders, laborers, and regulators to build consensus around reuse strategies. By supporting state agencies and community partners, the researchers aim to inform policy decisions in California and offer a model for transitions across the U.S.