California's refining industry is undergoing a structural transformation unlike anything in its history. California's refineries still power the fifth-largest economy in the world, but their future is being rewritten as some keep running, some convert, and some close. What's next is the hard part: decommissioning sites responsibly, reusing valuable industrial land, protecting workers and fuel supply, and shaping California's broader energy future in the process. This summit brings industry, regulators, labor, and communities into one neutral room for solutions-oriented conversations grounded in data, shaped by experience, and focused on what happens next.

This summit provides a neutral forum for industry, regulators, labor, and communities to examine the economic, environmental, and operational realities of refinery closures.

California Refineries Decommissioning Summit brings together economists, state regulators, industry representatives, environmental remediation firms, labor leaders, and community organizations for solutions-oriented conversations grounded in data, shaped by experience, and focused on actionable policy.

Key Themes

Fuel Prices and Market Stability
Understanding market concentration and policy tools that protect consumers while maintaining fuel supply.

Refinery Decommissioning and Environmental Cleanup
Defining cleanup obligations, costs, and timelines before the next closure is critical.

Workforce Transition and Employment
Refinery jobs are among the highest-paying in their communities. Decommissioning and remediation work can create significant employment opportunities if policy supports workforce transition.

What the Summit Will Address

• Demand trajectory and market concentration

• Regulatory gaps and policy frameworks

• Conversion versus full refinery closure

• Asset retirement obligations and the true cost of decommissioning

• Contamination, remediation, and land reuse

• Workforce transition and employment pathways

• Air quality rules and operational pressures