Chevron refinery plans change, heads for final vote

RICHMOND, Calif. (KGO) -- Public hearings about a proposed upgrade at Chevron's Richmond refinery continued for a second evening Thursday. The company says it will make the plant safer and cleaner, but opponents aren't so sure.

The city's planning commission approved an environmental impact report. The option the commission chose requires the refinery to reduce emissions, particularly greenhouse gases, in the local area.

Chevron says while it's reviewing their options, it has grave concerns about the regulations.

Wednesday night, hundreds of people packed into the cafeteria, standing their ground on this project. Over 130 of them submitted speaker cards and the meeting itself went well past 11 p.m.

Chevron also made its case, saying their $1 billion modernization would basically replace aging processing equipment with new technology that will basically hold the lid on greenhouse gas and other pollutants.

California Attorney General Kamala Harris is calling for something more than that -- no physical increase in greenhouse gas emissions.

Next, the project goes before the Richmond City Council for a final vote.