Newsroom

Experts are predicting this year’s season to be similar to last or even a little less severe, with Colorado State University Tropical Forecast calling for 13 named storms, six hurricanes and two category 3 or higher hurricanes. And as they do every year, refining and petrochemical companies are doing their part to ensure they are prepared for every possible scenario and batting down the hatches, if you will.

AFPM has announced the winners of the 2022 Annual Safety Awards, part of the refining and petrochemical industries ongoing mission and commitment to enhance and recognize outstanding workplace safety. The awards are part of a comprehensive program developed by the AFPM Safety and Health Committee to promote safe operations in the refining and petrochemical industries and recognize facilities that have outstanding occupational and process safety performance.

AFPM President and CEO Chet Thompson issued the following statement on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) proposal of light- and heavy-duty vehicle GHG emission standards: "EPA's proposal to effectively ban gasoline and diesel vehicles is bad for consumers, the environment, our freedom of mobility and U.S. national security. It’s unconscionable that the Administration would propose this knowing full well that China controls 80% of global battery production capacity..."

H.R. 1 is an investment in U.S. energy security. Fuel and petrochemical manufacturers, and the energy infrastructure companies that make it possible to get our feedstocks and products from point A to point B, welcome the additional clarity and regulatory certainty this legislation will provide.

AFPM issued the following statement on the passage of California legislation that will empower the state’s unelected bureaucracy to impose an effective windfall tax and massive regulatory burden on the state’s remaining refineries. "...Add this legislative cocktail to the list of self-inflicted policy wounds for a state already bleeding people."

Nothing is more important to the fuel and petrochemical industries than the safety of our employees, communities and the environment. U.S. refiners and petrochemical manufacturers invest extensively to help provide equipment, funding and training for emergency response units.

Every American should be able to choose the type of car or truck they want to drive. Restricting consumer choice by eliminating competition and banning entire vehicle power trains is the wrong path to achieving cleaner transportation or supporting U.S. energy security.

When Congress created the Renewable Fuel Standard, the intent was clear. The RFS was supposed to build a market for American-grown biofuels and support domestic energy security. Today, EPA wants to deviate wildly from this course. Instead of maintaining the RFS as a program for liquid transportation biofuels, EPA’s RFS proposal for 2023 to 2025 would begin transforming the RFS into yet another huge government subsidy for electric vehicles.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) adopted its Advanced Clean Cars II (ACCII) regulation. ACCII requires 35% of light-duty vehicle sales to qualify as “zero emission” by 2026 and 100% by 2035. Essentially, this amounts to a ban on new sales of traditional gasoline and diesel-powered cars and trucks. To implement the policy, California will need a Clean Air Act waiver from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). If EPA grants the waiver, millions of Americans—including many outside of California—could lose the option to buy the car or truck THEY want.