Collection: Puget Sound Oil Refineries Transition
https://www.sightline.org/transitioning-puget-sound-oil-refineries/
With Oil Unreliable, Refinery Communities Deserve a Transition Plan
This article is part of the series Transitioning From Puget Sound Oil Refineries The long-term stability of Washington’s five oil refineries is in doubt. But that doesn’t mean the workers and local communities who support this industry have to share its fate. Just a few hours south, the town of Centralia offers a model of a successful economic transition as a community … Read more
Centralia, a Fossil Fuel Transition Success Story
This article is part of the series Transitioning From Puget Sound Oil Refineries When Centralia’s coal mine closed in 2006, it was clear that the town’s coal-fired power plant would soon follow. Realizing that the power plant’s closure would devastate the local economy, then-Washington Governor Christine Gregoire and the Washington State Legislature negotiated with power … Read more
The Danger of the Marine Vessels that Serve Refineries
This article is part of the series Transitioning From Puget Sound Oil Refineries Takeaways Oil tankers make nearly 4,000 trips each year on the Salish Sea, each carrying up to 400,000 barrels of crude oil to, or refined product from, Washington’s refineries. In the event of a marine spill in the Salish Sea, only 10 … Read more
The Danger of the Pipelines and Trains that Serve Refineries
This article is part of the series Transitioning From Puget Sound Oil Refineries Takeaways The worst crude oil pipeline spill in Washington history occurred in January 1973 when the Trans Mountain pipeline, which links up with four of the Puget Sound refineries, spilled 460,000 gallons of crude near Bellingham. Many smaller violations have occurred throughout … Read more
Direct Impacts of Northwest Refinery Pollution
This article is part of the series Transitioning From Puget Sound Oil Refineries Takeaways The four largest refineries are among the top eight sources of carbon pollution in Washington State, emitting more than 6 million metric tons annually. The four largest refineries are among the top eight sources of carbon pollution in Washington State, emitting … Read more
Oil Refinery Workforce 411
This article is part of the series Transitioning From Puget Sound Oil Refineries Takeaways The refineries employ about 2,000 full-time workers and more than 2,000 contractors. Including indirect and induced employment, the refining industry supports about 25,000 jobs across Washington State and 12,000 jobs in Whatcom and Skagit counties, accounting for 7.3 percent of jobs … Read more
Oil Refinery Profits, Taxes, and Spending: A Primer
This article is part of the series Transitioning From Puget Sound Oil Refineries Takeaways The five refineries make about $2 billion per year in profit. They paid between 12 and 16 percent of that in taxes from 2017–2019. Notably, however, roughly half of refinery taxes go toward mitigation of industry-caused environmental harms, primarily via the … Read more
Two Possible Futures for Northwest Oil Refining
This article is part of the series Transitioning From Puget Sound Oil Refineries The coming decades will bring increasingly volatile oil markets as well as promising boosts in energy efficiency, vehicle electrification, and a shift to cheaper clean energy. As demand for oil drops, Puget Sound refinery communities can plan ahead for a smooth transition—protecting … Read more
The History of Northwest Refineries
This article is part of the series Transitioning From Puget Sound Oil Refineries Takeaways The refineries were built on the ancestral land of the Lummi, Swinomish, and Puyallup peoples. Four refineries were built between 1954 and 1957, with a combined refining capacity of 140,000 barrels per day by 1958. Four refineries were built between 1954 … Read more
