It is time to build new refineries

[slewfoot]

1/3 of our total oil refining capacity sits within a fifty mile radius of where Katrina and Rita hit, and Gustav is aiming for.

The temporary shut down of these refineries are felt immediately at the pumps.

It is time to move some of our eggs out of the basket. With our past idiotic energy policies, we have allowed hostile foreign nations to hold us hostage for higher and higher energy costs.

We have reached the point where a broken pipeline is felt immediately across the nation. What will be the economic repercussions if one or more refineries are significantly damaged or destroyed?

In my opinion, leaving such a large majority of our refining capabilities in a hurricane prone area is economically foolish.

[Atlas]

I believe that this is mainly because most imported oil comes into the country through ports in the gulf.

[PeterJasonMN]

Our refinery up here (Murphy Oil's Superior, WI plant) is expecting to get an upgrade in the neighborhood of 6B dollars worth. IIRC it should triple output. Of course the enviro-freaks were whining about it. The mayor and even the governor said to STFU, because it was going to have that big of an impact on the tax base.


Their only problem: Fed.gov for some reason gave the local indian reservation some BS charter where any industrial projects within a 50mi radius of their borders need to get THEIR approval as well. And unfortunately for Murphy they're only about 25 miles away.

[PeterJasonMN]

I believe that this is mainly because most imported oil comes into the country through ports in the gulf.


On an individual basis, Canada is our biggest supplier, and it's ALMOST a tie for #2 between Mexico and Saudi Arabia.


http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/pet_move_impcus_a2_nus_epc0_im0_mbblpd_a.htm

[Atlas]

On an individual basis, Canada is our biggest supplier, and it's ALMOST a tie for #2 between Mexico and Saudi Arabia.


http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/pet_move_impcus_a2_nus_epc0_im0_mbblpd_a.htm

You're right of course, my mistake.
I was referring to oil imported from the mid-east, Nigeria, etc. overseas.

[PeterJasonMN]

yeah it gets tricky, because Nigeria and Venezuela are OPEC, but they're not Mideast.