With the number of people laying down for Chevron, there won’t be much room left on the floor.

I received the following email today from the friendly Richmond Chamber of Commerce, which included Chevron’s do-it-yourself email kit the Chamber is using to pimp for Chevron and lobby City Council and Planning Commission members. Unfortunately, as a Chamber member, I am helping to pay for this scam, and I’m not very happy about it.

If you click here, you have the opportunity to participate in a lie. You are offered only one message to send about the Chevron Energy and Hydrogen Renewal Project:

Dear Planning Commission & City Council:

As a Richmond resident, I support the Chevron Energy and Hydrogen Renewal Project.

The project replaces existing equipment with new equipment that is more energy efficient and includes enhanced environmental controls – reducing overall emissions at the Richmond Refinery.

The improvements will help fund services for Richmond including public safety, street repairs and youth programs.  And more than 1,200 good-paying construction jobs – most are expected to be filled by union labor – will be created.

I urge you to support the project when it comes before the Planning Commission for approval.

Here are the facts:

Claim: The project replaces existing equipment with new equipment that is more energy efficient and includes enhanced environmental controls.

Fact: This is actually correct. The purpose of the project is to make Chevron more profitable. State of the art equipment and energy reduction contribute to profitability.

Claim: …reducing overall emissions at the Richmond Refinery.

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.” In fact, the project will result in 900,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas annually.

Claim: The improvements will help fund services for Richmond including public safety, street repairs and youth programs. .

Fact: Chevron is doing everything in its power to bleed the City of Richmond dry financially. 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.

I don’t have a problem with people supporting this project, so long as it includes mitigations that protect the health, safety and welfare of the people of Richmond. In its present form, it doesn’t do that.

Background on the project can be found in the sources listed below:

• Leadership and Responsibility in the Chevron CUP, March 11, 2008.
• Jerry Brown Remains Skeptical of Chevron EIR, March 8, 2008
• Who is Telling the Truth?, March 6, 2008
• Richmond on the Precipice?, March 2, 2008
• Mitigating Greenhouse Gases from the Chevron Energy and Hydrogen Renewal Project, February 23, 2008
• AT 1.2 Million Pounds, Chevron is Region's Third Largest Polluter, February 22, 2008
• Design Review Board Scolds Chevron, February 6, 2008
• Chevron Reaps Massive Record Profits in 2007,February 2, 2008
• One Hand Giveth; the Other Taketh Away, February 2, 2008
• Chevron Energy and Hydrogen Renewal Project and Solar Energy, January 27, 2008
• Trees and the Chevron Energy and Hydrogen Renewal Project, January 27, 2008
• Whitewashing and Greenwashing the Chevron Energy and Hydrogen Renewal Project, January 26, 2008
• Chevron Project Goes to Design Review Board Without Final EIR, January 24, 2008

WANT TO RECEIVE TOM BUTT E-FORUM AND OTHER ACTION ALERTS ON RICHMOND POLITICAL AND COMMUNITY ISSUES DELIVERED TO YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS? EMAIL YOUR NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS AND/OR THE NAMES AND EMAIL ADDRESSES OF OTHERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO BE PLACED ON THE MAILING LIST AND THE MESSAGE "SUBSCRIBE" TO tom.butt@intres.com. COMMENTS, ARGUMENTS AND CORRECTIONS ARE WELCOME.  TOM BUTT IS A MEMBER OF THE RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL   WHEN OPINIONS AND VIEWS EXPRESSED, WITHOUT OTHER ATTRIBUTION, IN TOM BUTT E-FORUM, THEY ARE THOSE OF TOM BUTT AND DO NOT REFLECT OFFICIAL VIEWS OR POSITIONS OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND OR THE RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. VISIT THE TOM BUTT WEBSITE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT TOM BUTT'S ACTIVITIES ON THE RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL: http://www.tombutt.com.  PHONE 510/236-7435 OR 510/237-2084. SUBSCRIPTION TO THIS SERVICE IS AT THE PERSONAL DISCRETION OF THE RECIPIENT AND MAY BE TERMINATED BY RESPONDING WITH “UNSUBSCRIBE.” IT MAY TAKE A FEW DAYS TO REMOVE ADDRESSES FROM THE DISTRIBUTION LIST

From: Judy Morgan [mailto:judy@rcoc.com]
Sent: Monday, March 17, 2008 3:01 PM
To: Butt, Tom
Subject: Support the Chevron Renewal Project

Dear Members,

At the last Board meeting of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce the Board approved support of the Chevron Richmond Refinery project.  Please take the time to review the message below and forward your comments in support.

Thank you

Judy

Judy Morgan

President/CEO

Richmond Chamber of Commerce

(510) 234-3512

From: Priselac, Camille (ccaj)
Sent: Monday, March 17, 2008 11:26 AM
To: Brumfield, James (JBRU)
Subject: FW: Support the Chevron Renewal Project