On Fri, 02 Sep 2005 04:12:59 -0700, Garth Almgren wrote:


It's not like they haven't been trying.

Well, they sure haven't been trying very hard, considering the closure
rate of perfectly functional and/or upgradeable refineries.

In 1982, there were 231 oil refineries in the US. In 2000, there were
155. In that time, according to Carol Browner of the EPA, there was
*one* application made to build a new refinery. Me thinks, the oil
industry is blowing smoke.

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-...f:74099 .wais


If they *really* wanted a new refinery, it would get built. They've got
the money and the political influence to make it happen quicker than you
can possibly imagine -- IF they wanted to.