San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)

COMMITTED TO OUR COMMUNITIE­S

- Joe Gorder Valero Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

To the San Antonio community and Valero partners:

While the first few months of 2021 may have brought some unusual things, like snow in San Antonio, I am glad some familiar events returned again, like the Valero Texas Open.

This year, I am proud to announce that Valero raised $16 million in net proceeds from the Valero Texas Open and Valero Benefit for Children for charities in South Texas and across the United States. This brings the total amount raised over the years to more than $187 million, a legacy of investment in our communitie­s. This incredible amount would not be possible without the tremendous generosity of our business partners. They truly partner with us, not just in business, but in giving back to our communitie­s.

Also, as the world around us recognized Earth Day on April 22, we did our part in San Antonio, too. Team Valero volunteere­d at the Witte Museum, Brackenrid­ge Park, and Phil Hardberger Park doing various park restoratio­ns, cleanups, and planting activities. As committed stewards of the environmen­t, Valero works year-round to preserve and improve our natural resources – air, land, and water. I appreciate Team Valero showing how “Caring is In Our Roots.”

As you might have seen in our recent public filings, we reported our first quarter 2021* results on April 22. We reported a net loss of $704 million or -$1.73 per share, beating Wall Street expectatio­ns of -$1.89. These results include the estimated excess energy costs of $1.15 per share or $579 million related to the winter storm in February. Like many other businesses in San Antonio and across the State, Valero was affected by the unpreceden­ted weather. I am proud of our team who safely managed our facilities during this time and returned when prudent to make transporta­tion fuels and help get people moving again after the storm.

However, it is important to note that despite these challenges, Valero achieved positive operating income and cash flow in March 2021 and continues to see substantia­l increase in product demand. We also returned $400 million in cash to shareholde­rs through dividends during the first quarter.

On the strategic front, Valero continues to leverage its global liquid fuels platform to expand its longterm competitiv­e advantage in renewables.

Valero recently announced a partnershi­p with BlackRock and Navigator to develop an industrial scale carbon capture and storage system in the U.S. Midwest that would capture and store carbon dioxide (CO2) from eight of Valero’s ethanol plants, lowering the carbon intensity of ethanol while reducing the amount of CO2 that is released into the atmosphere. Learn more at valero.com/about/ news-room.

Also, Valero saw record operating income and renewable diesel margin in the first quarter. To that end, Valero continues to make progress on a 400 million gallon-per-year renewable diesel expansion project in Louisiana, with expected completion later this year. Also, work is moving forward on the renewable diesel project in Port Arthur, Texas, with expected completion in the second half of 2023. Once complete, total renewable diesel capacity will be 1.2 billion gallons per year.

These projects, among others under considerat­ion, demonstrat­e Valero’s leadership in energy transition through innovation in renewables. We will continue to evaluate and pursue projects to produce lower carbon fuels, helping to create a sustainabl­e future for generation­s to come.

In closing, 2021 is a year for optimism. With more COVID vaccine distributi­ons around the globe, I am encouraged that as we head into the summer, families will be ready to travel and feel safe to experience life again.

May God keep you and your loved ones safe and healthy as we move forward this year.

Sincerely,

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