(The Center Square) – A Valero Energy refinery in the Bay Area that provides about 9% of California’s gasoline supply began shutting down at the end of January, earlier than some anticipated, with potential knock-on effects on gas and motor fuels prices in Nevada, Arizona and other western states.
A former manager at Valero Energy, Mike Aziza, said the San Antonio-based oil company started idling the Benicia, Calif. refinery on Jan. 31, and thermal imaging reports show it is not emitting heat, according to a report in the California Globe.
Californians paid the nation’s highest gas prices as of early Wednesday morning at $4.50 per gallon, according to the American Automobile Association. That’s above the national average of $2.92…