Consumer group calls for investigation of refinery shutdown in Martinez
By Kevin Smith, San Gabriel Valley Tribune
POSTED: 02/06/15, 6:26 PM PST | 0 COMMENTS
A consumer group is urging state officials to investigate Tesoro’s decision to close its refinery in Martinez while steelworkers at the plant participate in a national strike.
Liza Tucker, a consumer advocate with Consumer Watchdog, said taking the Golden Eagle plant offline will cut California’s crude oil refining capacity by 8 percent, resulting in higher prices at the pump.
Consumer Watchdog sent a letter to California Attorney General Kamala Harris and Robert Weisenmiller, chair of the California Energy Commission, citing “suspicious refinery behavior” on the part of Tesoro.