Western Oil & Gas Company: Strategic Financing for Energy Efficiency

Western Oil & Gas Company evaluated a $2 million capital improvement project to upgrade motor systems at its Richmond, California refinery to improve energy efficiency and equipment reliability. Despite these benefits, the project was initially deemed unwise because the necessary diversion of resources risked disrupting 24-hour plant operations and the project did not compete favorably with other capital expenditures. To address these risks and balance them against the benefits, Western engaged an energy services company (ESCo) called Energy Services and a financing firm, ABB Energy Capital, to explore various financing options.

• Western Oil & Gas Company considered a $2 million capital improvement project to upgrade motor systems at its Richmond, California refinery, which would have increased energy efficiency and improved equipment reliability.
• The proposed motor system upgrades were not considered a high strategic priority compared to other capital projects and were viewed as unwise due to the risk of disrupting 24-hour plant operations.
• To evaluate how to balance project risks with benefits, Western partnered with an energy services company (ESCo) named Energy Services and a specialized financing company called ABB Energy Capital to explore financing options.

APA

Briscoe, F., Sanusi, H., & Archampong, O. (2002). Western Oil & Gas Company: Strategic Financing for Energy Efficiency. World Resources Institute. https://pdf.wri.org/bell/abstracts/case_1-56978-448-8_abstract_version_english.pdf

Chicago

Briscoe, Forrest, Hakeem Sanusi, and Opoku Archampong. Western Oil & Gas Company: Strategic Financing for Energy Efficiency. World Resources Institute, 2002. https://pdf.wri.org/bell/abstracts/case_1-56978-448-8_abstract_version_english.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Briscoe |first1=Forrest |last2=Sanusi |first2=Hakeem |last3=Archampong |first3=Opoku |title=Western Oil & Gas Company: Strategic Financing for Energy Efficiency |publisher=World Resources Institute |date=2002 |url=https://pdf.wri.org/bell/abstracts/case_1-56978-448-8_abstract_version_english.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{briscoe2002western, author = {Briscoe, Forrest and Sanusi, Hakeem and Archampong, Opoku}, title = {{Western Oil \& Gas Company: Strategic Financing for Energy Efficiency}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2002}, url = {https://pdf.wri.org/bell/abstracts/case_1-56978-448-8_abstract_version_english.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }