A Contra Costa Superior Court judge ordered Chevron Corp. to close down a $1 billion project aimed at expanding its controversial oil refinery expansion in Richmond.

The Judge Barbara Zuniga sided with California environmental activists and gave Chevron sixty days to shut down its project.

According to the judge, the environmental impact report filed to get permission for the expansion of the refinery did not answer the key questions like how pollution from the refinery would be changed by the project.

On the other hand, Chevron describes the project as an essential upgrade.

Following Wednesday's ruling, one hundred workers on the project were laid off by the company and more are expected to go in the recent future.

The lawsuit has revealed long-simmering anger among the refinery's neighbors, who says pollution from the refinery threatens their health.

Speaking on the topic, Chevron spokesperson, Brent Tippen said the Richmond community would lose between $50 million and $75 million in workforce income and $61 million that Chevron had agreed to donate to various community programs in Richmond.