Chevron Corporate Responsibility Report 2010

The century-old relationship between Chevron
and the city of Richmond is on a new path to
strengthen the company and the community.
California, United States:
Finding Common
Ground in Richmond
Chevron and the city of Richmond,
California, share a rich history that
stretches back more than a century.
The refinery sits on about 2,900 acres
(1,174 ha) 15 miles (24 km) northeast
of San Francisco and was built
before Richmond was incorporated
in 1905. Richmond then was a small
but growing industrial area of about
2,000 people. Today, it’s a city with
a diverse economy of industrial, technological
and maritime businesses
and 103,000 residents.
Together — through booms and recessions,
19 U.S. presidents, and economic
and social changes — the relationship
between the refinery and the people
of Richmond has evolved. Over the
past two decades, there has been a
growing interest in refinery activities.
Some citizens have expressed concerns
about insufficient communication on
issues such as community support,
emissions and flaring.
“We listened to those concerns,” said
Mike Coyle, refinery general manager,
“and in 2008, we began efforts to
strengthen local relationships. This is
helping us overcome challenges that
affect our business and the community.”
We commissioned an independent
nonprofit organization to interview
community leaders. Coyle said the
results proved enlightening. Among the
findings: Citizen groups and nonprofit
leaders felt that our community interactions
had decreased and that people
were unaware of our long history of
involvement. Many wanted us to be
more active in helping the city address
social and economic problems.
As a result, we are in the midst of an
effort to renew and strengthen our
relationships. We meet regularly with
residents and leaders, and based on
their input, we’ve invested in job creation,
public safety and K–12 education.
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