Poor CPUC decision
I’m a resident of Benicia who lives just up the hill from the Valero refinery on Lindo Street, and the fact that the CPUC’s decision NOT to penalize PG&E for its “inadequate training of operations personnel and slow response” is ludicrous. In fact, the CPUC should be penalized for making such a ruling. The citizens who live in Benicia and near the refinery apparently were not even considered in their decision. We breathe the “crap” from that refinery every day, and when it’s over the “accepted” standard due to someone’s “mistake”, then they should be held responsible.
I agree with Mayor Elizabeth Patterson’s retort to the CPUC, and Bill Dodd’s assessment of the agency for not considering the health and welfare of the residents of our city. PG&E has shown that it has handled itself poorly in a lot of situations around the state over the last few years (San Bruno, the Wine Country Fires, etc.), so why should they be treated any differently for this oversight? I’m appalled at the commission’s lack of responsible leadership. They appear to be just as ignorant of the real dangers as PG&E (and Valero) are. I wouldn’t be surprised if certain agreements between the commissioners and officers of PG&E’s board weren’t the REAL culprits behind this decision.
If the CPUC isn’t going to exist in the best interest of the people of the state of California, then why should we have them and pay their exorbitant salaries? They should be ashamed of themselves for not putting citizens and residents first in their decision-making.
Richard Nodine,
Benicia
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I DO UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERN. The CPUC salaries are not exorbitant About $150,000 a year. Not over paid at all. The city manager of Benicia is way above that. I also think including Valero in parenthesis is a little much. It was not Valero’s FAULT. Valero is working very closely with the city on fence line monitoring and communications. Also doing training of PG%E employees to protect this city. PG&E is going to have a very difficult time in the next few years and could very well come under some very tough restrictions. A fine would have not accomplished anything. I live in this city also and care about clean air as much as anyone. Not planning on leaving and do trust Valero as a very good neighbor.
Richard, I’m happy you found some avenue to your anger. Personally, I believe the CPUC does a pretty good job in their main role-that of helping every utility rate payer pay a fair price for the commodity they have to purchase. In this instance, I also believe that CPUC did the right thing. This event was small potatoes-no body died and no lasting harm to anyone. or even to the environment. Y’know, you DO have the option of moving away if your fear of pollutants is so high.