Phillips 66 says its massive Wilmington oil refinery will close by the end of 2025, and 600 people will lose their jobs when it does.
The refinery covers hundreds of acres, mostly in Wilmington, but it is also connected to Carson via pipeline. Los Angeles Council Member Tim McOsker tells KNX News' Craig Fiegener that not only will the area lose "very good union jobs," but the shutdown could impact the cost of gasoline.
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Los Angeles has long tried to shut down oil drilling within the city limits. However, in the case of the Wilmington refinery, McOsker said it is not about drilling; it's about refining.
"This particular refinery produces 8% of California's gas. Philips 66, like other refineries, brings in the crude product, refines the product, and then sends the product out by pipeline," he said. "So this is not an oil drilling issue; this is an oil refining issue."
In September, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill that gives cities and counties the power to stop oil drilling in their neighborhoods and, during the announcement, said not to fall for 'Big Oil's' claims that laws like these will drive up gas prices.
McOsker said the city needs to act as soon as possible to prevent any potential negative effects of the closure.
"It will be important for us to make sure that we are looking at the employees but also looking at how this disrupts the market. We have a year to work on it. It will be important for us not to be flat-footed," he said.
McOsker said that during the coming year of transition, as work at the refinery winds down, there will be an enormous number of redevelopment opportunities and high-paying jobs that the city will encourage people currently working at the refinery to take advantage of.
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