Stopped Traffic, Silent Refinery

Driving south on I-680 from Napa over the Benicia-Martinez Bridge is usually a breeze because there are no toll booths in that direction. So I was surprised when traffic slowed almost to a stop after we crossed the bridge. That slowness ended up providing a photo opportunity, giving me time to capture an image of the Valero Refinery. Industrial sites like this seem otherworldly to me, especially when processed in monochrome.

Until recently, the refinery would have been a much more active presence, with steam rising from its stacks and occasional flaring of excess gas. But in April of this year, Valero stopped refining crude oil at the site and now uses it only to import, store, and distribute fuel. Nearby residents will no longer be subjected to the black smoke and soot that sometimes resulted from equipment malfunctions and unauthorized pollution releases.