ESG Report - Report - Page 27
STRATEGY
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ENVIRONMENT
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2022 Biodiversity and Conservation Initiatives
The following programs and projects are part of our biodiversity initiatives beyond the company's business
activities. We prioritize the needs of local nonprofits and other community stakeholders when selecting biodiversity
projects and value these opportunities to engage with our neighbors.
Nature-Based Carbon
Capture Programs:
• Aurora Ethanol Plant: An ongoing
partnership with the Brookings
County Conservation District
brought the total trees planted at
the facility over the past few years
to more than 7,000.
• BCarbon: Valero is collaborating
with BCarbon, a nonprofit naturebased carbon dioxide capture
and storage registry, to support
the development of a 1,000-mile
living shoreline project on the Texas
Gulf Coast, consisting of oyster
reef breakwater systems. These
natural bank barriers help to restore
shoreline habitat, reduce erosion,
improve water quality and enhance
fish and wildlife habitat.
• Pontchartrain Conservancy: The
Valero St. Charles and Meraux
refineries continued their
partnership with the Pontchartrain
Conservancy by planting more
than 900 trees in south Louisiana
wetlands during two employeevolunteer planting events in 2022.
Valero donated $1 million to support
the Pontchartrain Conservancy’s
Swamp Reforestation project.
Wildlife Protection
Programs:
• Biodiversity Action Plan –
Pembroke, U.K.: Our Pembroke
refinery implemented a
Biodiversity Action Plan to
identify the habitats and
species present within
Valero properties to design a
number of projects aimed at
improving existing or creating
new habitats. Past projects
involved work with
the Bumblebee Conservation
Trust to create habitat for the
rare shrill carder bee. Today,
Pembroke plans to continue
its biodiversity initiatives
through the creation of ponds,
installation of additional
nest boxes and meadow seed
and tree plantings.
Water-Focused
Programs:
• Gulf of Mexico Alliance: The
Valero Port Arthur Refinery
became a 2022 Gulf Star Partner
with the Gulf of Mexico Alliance by
supporting their Ocean Guardian
School Program in collaboration
with the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration.
This five-year program supports
a teacher leader at Lincoln
Middle School in the Port Arthur
Independent School District to
execute conservational projects
with students throughout the
school year. Projects include
watershed restoration, recycling,
school gardens, ocean health
and more.
• Iowa Department of Natural
Resources: The Valero Albert
City Ethanol Plant is allowing
the Iowa Department of
Natural Resources (DNR)
access to the site’s stormwater
pond to band goslings. The
bands will help the DNR to
track the birds and observe
their migration and travel
patterns.
• Wildlife Habitat Council:
Valero is currently a member
of the Wildlife Habitat Council,
a nonprofit dedicated to
enhancing and restoring
wildlife habitat by promoting
investments in sustainability
efforts. We are working to
obtain certification for Valero’s
ecological projects through
the council.
ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE REPORT •
27
