Chevron got one thing right. For the mailer (click here for a copy) soliciting community support for the Chevron Energy and Hydrogen Renewal Project, they used the smiling face of Jim Brumfield, probably the nicest guy in the world on Chevron’s payroll. Unfortunately, we may have to watch Jim’s nose grow longer, like Pinnochio.

The mailer makes a number of claims, few of which stand up to scrutiny:

• Claim: Reducing overall emissions, making Richmond’s air quality even better.

Fact: The EIR states: “Operational activities associated with the implementation of the Proposed Project would increase air pollutant emissions of volatile organic compounds by potentially significant quantities. This impact would be significant and unavoidable both for the Proposed Project and cumulatively as well. Proposed Project activities could result in an increase in greenhouse gas emissions from the Refinery.

• Claim: Generating millions in new tax revenues for Richmond that could be used to fund essential public services including public safety, street repairs and youth services.

Fact: Chevron is doing everything in its power to reduce the amount of taxes it pays to Richmond. Chevron is currently appealing its property tax assessment that would, if successful, cost Richmond tens of millions of dollars, much of which has already been spent and would have to be refunded. Just last year, Chevron voluntarily changed the way its utility user tax is computed, reducing its taxes by about $4 million. Despite repeated requests, Chevron has not provided any details about its claim regarding “new tax revenues.” See Chevron Unable to Back Up Claims Made in Letter to KPFA, July 21, 2007.

• Claim: Creating more than 1,200 good-paying construction jobs – most are expected to be filled by union labor.

Fact: The EIR states that the project will result in 10 permanent jobs.

• Claim: Improving operations without any change to the refinery’s overall production capacity.

Fact: The EIR states that the refining capacity will increase by 6 percent. In addition to greenhouse gases produced in the refining process, the project will expand production capacity by approximately 14,400 bbls. per day. That’s 604,800 gallons of product per day, or 218 million gallons per year. Each gallon of gasoline, which weighs about 6.3 pounds, could produce 20 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO₂) when burned. That’s 2.2 million tons of greenhouse gas annually from the 6 percent refinery capacity increase.

You may want to send the postage prepaid card attached to the mailer back to Chevron and ask them when they will stop lying to the people of Richmond and stop trying to cheat them us of tax revenue.