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Mike Ariza Mike is a US Navy veteran with over twenty years of experience in the refining industry. His refining experience extends from the Chevron Refinery in Richmond California, the Flying J refinery in Bakersfield, and the Valero Refinery in Benicia. He held the positions of number one control board Operator at Flying J and Senior Refinery Control Board Supervisor at Valero.
Mike was an instructor of both operator field and control board classes. Among his peers he was well known for his control board skills during emergency situations. However, he was best known for his quick troubleshooting skills which he utilized to prevent emergency situations. On numerous occasions he prevented significant partial refinery outages. In addition, Mike utilized his skills to prevent two full refinery unscheduled downtimes. For these abilities his peers often referred to him as one of the top ten control board operators in the country. |
Background
I was born in Fairfield California on October 8, 1965. Raised in Vacaville California graduating from Vacaville High School in June of 1984. In July of 1984 I joined the United States Navy in the delayed entry Nuclear Power program. While in the Navy I obtained the rank of Machinist Mate petty officer 2nd class working in engineering. I left the Navy to hire at the Chevron Richmond Refinery in 1989.
At Chevron I qualified as an operator at the North Isomax (hydrocracker) plant. I left Chevron in October of 1990 to work at the Exxon Benicia Refinery. Built in 1969, The Exxon Refinery in Benicia was a pioneer design. To this very day the former Exxon, now Valero refinery has a unique complexity that still makes it the most advanced and efficient refinery in the state of California. After 3 years I went into the Control Room to certify on the “A” complex units. Within 5 years I obtained the highest non-management pay level certification of senior refinery technician. And within the same timeframe I completed qualifications as a Control Board Supervisor for all 8 of the “A” Complex units. As an “A” control Supervisor I was responsible for the safe operation of 8 major refinery units at the same time.
These 8 simultaneously operated units are the pioneer design that is unique to Benicia. Very few Refineries are built like this in the entire world. In other locations operators typically operate and control one major refinery unit. In the case of Valero, a Control Board Supervisor controls 8 major units at the same time. When you combine the Hydrogen Generation Unit and the Hydrocracker Unit that I ran down in Bakersfield with the units that I ran at Valero it has given me a complete understanding of how an entire Refinery operates.
My experience-based understanding is unique in the refining industry. It is this understanding that has driven me to collaborate with Assemblyman Ellis and Professor Mische in order to deal with the crisis that is already upon us.
I was born in Fairfield California on October 8, 1965. Raised in Vacaville California graduating from Vacaville High School in June of 1984. In July of 1984 I joined the United States Navy in the delayed entry Nuclear Power program. While in the Navy I obtained the rank of Machinist Mate petty officer 2nd class working in engineering. I left the Navy to hire at the Chevron Richmond Refinery in 1989.
At Chevron I qualified as an operator at the North Isomax (hydrocracker) plant. I left Chevron in October of 1990 to work at the Exxon Benicia Refinery. Built in 1969, The Exxon Refinery in Benicia was a pioneer design. To this very day the former Exxon, now Valero refinery has a unique complexity that still makes it the most advanced and efficient refinery in the state of California. After 3 years I went into the Control Room to certify on the “A” complex units. Within 5 years I obtained the highest non-management pay level certification of senior refinery technician. And within the same timeframe I completed qualifications as a Control Board Supervisor for all 8 of the “A” Complex units. As an “A” control Supervisor I was responsible for the safe operation of 8 major refinery units at the same time.
These 8 simultaneously operated units are the pioneer design that is unique to Benicia. Very few Refineries are built like this in the entire world. In other locations operators typically operate and control one major refinery unit. In the case of Valero, a Control Board Supervisor controls 8 major units at the same time. When you combine the Hydrogen Generation Unit and the Hydrocracker Unit that I ran down in Bakersfield with the units that I ran at Valero it has given me a complete understanding of how an entire Refinery operates.
My experience-based understanding is unique in the refining industry. It is this understanding that has driven me to collaborate with Assemblyman Ellis and Professor Mische in order to deal with the crisis that is already upon us.
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United States Navy 1984-1989
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Flying J Refinery Bakersfield California
2003 – 2007
2015 – Present
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Here is Mike's 2025 warning letter:
Up for discussion on today's show:
Several states declared a fuel or diesel emergency in the last two weeks, tied to record diesel prices and a distillate shortage during harvest. The orders mostly let farmers and haulers use dyed (untaxed, off-road) diesel on public roads and, in some cases, raise truck weight limits. They are not general gasoline rationing orders.
States that issued an emergency or disaster declaration for fuel:
**Texas** — Gov. Greg Abbott declared a statewide disaster on September 28 for a diesel shortage. It allows dyed diesel on public roads, raises weight limits on fuel, farm, and timber loads, and suspends some Texas low-emission diesel rules where federal rules allow. It does not suspend the state fuel tax. The order runs 30 days.
**Louisiana** — Gov. Jeff Landry declared an emergency signed September 22, effective September 23, over the diesel shortage. Farm and timber vehicles can use dyed diesel without the usual penalty through October 22. Louisiana diesel was cited at $6.03 a gallon.
**Nebraska** — Gov. Jim Pillen declared a state of emergency for a distillate-fuel shortage (Executive Order 26-21, around September 24) and allowed highway-registered vehicles to hold or use dyed diesel without state penalties.
**Missouri** — Gov. Mike Kehoe declared a state of emergency on September 30 (Executive Order 26-19). It suspends dyed-diesel restrictions for agricultural use and raises weight limits for farm hauls through October 30.
**Georgia** — Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency on Monday, September 28, and suspended the state gas and diesel tax for 30 days. That one is a price-relief order, not a dyed-diesel waiver.
South Dakota’s Gov. Larry Rhoden signed an order letting farm haulers run 10% over weight limits, but that was not described as a fuel emergency. Ohio suspended its gas and diesel taxes for 90 days by statute, not by an emergency declaration.
Governors are pointing to tight U.S. distillate stocks, reduced global diesel supply after Russia restricted diesel exports, and Middle East export constraints. Texas diesel was averaging about $5.84 a gallon, versus $3.16 a year earlier.
States that issued an emergency or disaster declaration for fuel:
**Texas** — Gov. Greg Abbott declared a statewide disaster on September 28 for a diesel shortage. It allows dyed diesel on public roads, raises weight limits on fuel, farm, and timber loads, and suspends some Texas low-emission diesel rules where federal rules allow. It does not suspend the state fuel tax. The order runs 30 days.
**Louisiana** — Gov. Jeff Landry declared an emergency signed September 22, effective September 23, over the diesel shortage. Farm and timber vehicles can use dyed diesel without the usual penalty through October 22. Louisiana diesel was cited at $6.03 a gallon.
**Nebraska** — Gov. Jim Pillen declared a state of emergency for a distillate-fuel shortage (Executive Order 26-21, around September 24) and allowed highway-registered vehicles to hold or use dyed diesel without state penalties.
**Missouri** — Gov. Mike Kehoe declared a state of emergency on September 30 (Executive Order 26-19). It suspends dyed-diesel restrictions for agricultural use and raises weight limits for farm hauls through October 30.
**Georgia** — Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency on Monday, September 28, and suspended the state gas and diesel tax for 30 days. That one is a price-relief order, not a dyed-diesel waiver.
South Dakota’s Gov. Larry Rhoden signed an order letting farm haulers run 10% over weight limits, but that was not described as a fuel emergency. Ohio suspended its gas and diesel taxes for 90 days by statute, not by an emergency declaration.
Governors are pointing to tight U.S. distillate stocks, reduced global diesel supply after Russia restricted diesel exports, and Middle East export constraints. Texas diesel was averaging about $5.84 a gallon, versus $3.16 a year earlier.