How many people work at the refineries? How many are union? How much do the companies pay in salary and benefits? How much does each facility generate in post tax revenue? How much will cap and tax cost the companies? How much would it cost to just close the refinery?
Run the numbers. If it is cheaper to close the refineries you close them.
Quick story. I worked for a manufacturing company back in the 90’s. In one of their plants, there was a cafeteria. About 20 people manned it. They were all union employees.
Well management was retooling a line and needed 2 people to come over from the cafeteria to the line. They refused. The union stepped in and told management that they had to hire two more people instead of pulling them from the cafeteria. Management said no.
So the union decided to file a grievance.
Well a couple of weeks later, several trucks showed up at the plants dock. In it were vending machines. The trucks sat there for a day or two. Management once again asked the union to reconsider and let the two people move over to the line. The union said no.
Over the weekend, the trucks unloaded the the vending machines, they were set up in the cafeteria, the cafeteria was closed and on Monday the plant fired 20 workers.
It was cheaper in the first place to have the machines. But the plant cared about its workers so it paid more to have bodies there.
California is playing a dangerous game that in the end might cost them billions.
What you do is raise your rates. Then utilities make you and I pay for it. Then the state starts an investigation to find out why the refiners are gouging the utilities. And then some small fines are heaped on the refineries to save face. Then the refineries raise their rates. The utilities make you and I cover that too.
All is forgotten, while the public walks a little more bent over.