Climate Policy Engagement Analysis
Climate Policy Engagement Overview: Valero Energy exhibits active policy engagement that is oppositional to science-aligned climate policy. The company demonstrates limited top-line communication on climate policy and has engaged in opposition to specific policies such as vehicle GHG emissions standards.
Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: Valero offers limited top-line messaging on climate policy. In its 2024 ESG Report, published in September 2024, the company expressed support for net-zero or climate neutrality targets, though it remains ambiguous on whether it supports the near-term actions necessary to achieve these goals.
Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: Valero’s engagement on GHG emissions policy between 2023–2025 has been consistently negative. In June 2024, the company challenged NHTSA’s Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Standards for model years 2027–2031 in the U.S. Court of Appeals. In March 2024, Valero submitted supplemental comments contesting EPA authority to enforce GHG regulations, specifically opposing standards for heavy-duty vehicles (2027 and beyond) and light- and medium-duty vehicles (2027–2032). In October 2023, Valero argued to reduce the ambition of proposed CAFE standards and questioned their legality. Earlier, in June 2023, the company opposed EPA’s proposed GHG standards for heavy-duty vehicles. In February 2023, Valero opposed FAR’s proposed GHG disclosure regulation, requesting exemptions on national and energy security grounds and arguing it would be unconstitutional and in violation of the Clean Air Act.
Positioning on Energy Transition: Valero appears generally unsupportive of legislation to accelerate the transition of the energy mix. In August 2025, Executive Chairman Joe Gorder stated support for a larger role for biofuels, but without reference to the need to transition to a renewables-based system or recognition of the limitations of biofuels. In its September 2024 ESG Report, Valero advocated for the longer-term use of biofuels over rapid electrification of light-duty vehicles, while also opposing California’s Advanced Clean Fleets Regulation by urging the EPA to deny CARB’s request for a waiver of preemption. Earlier, in February 2024, Valero opposed CARB’s request for a waiver related to the Advanced Clean Cars II policy, challenging measures to electrify light-duty transport. Similarly, in October 2023, the company opposed New Mexico’s adoption of the Advanced Clean Trucks rule, citing legal concerns and promoting a “technology-neutral” approach that would extend the role of internal combustion engine vehicles.
Industry Association Governance: Valero discloses its trade association memberships in a disclosure on its website, though this reporting is limited to high-level climate statements without reference to specific policy positions. The company is a member of the Business Roundtable (BRT), which has engaged negatively on U.S. climate policy. Valero also has direct executive representation on the boards of the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM), where CEO Lane Riggs serves, and the Texas Oil & Gas Association (TXOGA), both of which have consistently engaged in negative lobbying on U.S. climate policy.
InfluenceMap collects and assesses evidence of corporate climate policy engagement on a weekly basis, depending on the availability of information from each specific data source (for more information see our methodology). While this analysis flows through to the company’s scores each week, the summary above is updated periodically. This summary was last updated in Q3 2025.
A detailed assessment of the company's corporate review on climate policy engagement can be found on InfluenceMap's CA100+ Investor Hub here.