Valero Energy Corporation provides reliable, clean-burning refined products to a growing population. We take very seriously our obligation to be a good neighbor and prudent environmental steward, while at the same time being faced with the challenge of meeting the nation’s rising energy needs for high quality transportation fuels. Valero is committed to maintaining this balance, and has already made significant reductions in air pollutants while increasing the capacity of our refining system.
Because of the risk that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions may adversely affect the environment, Valero will:
- Continue to review scientific, technical, and economic research on climate change.
- Invest in advanced technology to reduce future emissions by additional efficiency improvements.
- Support voluntary efforts to conserve energy and reduce emissions.
- Support market-based mechanisms and incentives as a balanced approach to ensuring the most economic sources of GHG emission reductions are realized.
If climate change policy is developed, it must be enacted at the national or international level to be effective. These regulations must also be coordinated with other government-driven environmental mandates that may run counter to addressing climate change. The enactment of regulatory policy requires a full understanding of climate change, since inaccurate or technically incorrect policies could damage national, regional, or state economies and obstruct other environmental goals – such as clean fuels – where the human health and environmental benefits are more clearly understood. For instance, even though Valero supports recent EPA mandates to meet clean fuel specifications, the additional refinery processing to remove sulfur from diesel and gasoline increased GHG emissions significantly above pre-existing refinery levels.
Valero closely follows regulatory developments. We participate in professional and public policy forums that address climate change and its potential impacts on society and ecosystems. Through careful scientific, economic, and technical analysis, we will work with all stakeholders to develop long-term measures that protect the environment.