On Mon, 08 May 2006 21:41:02 -0400, RCE wrote:


I watched an interview the other day with a big-wig from one of the major
oil companies (forget which one, but it doesn't matter). He claimed that
the environmental objections and permit obstacles were the major reasons
for the lack of new refineries in the US. He claimed that mucho dollars
were being spent to upgrade and make more efficient existing refineries as
the permitting process is not as complex.

So ... who to believe?

Not that guy, and it's not permitting, it's economics. The oil industry
has been closing refineries, 24 between 1995 and 2001, and according to
Carol Browner of the EPA, there was only *one* application to build a new
refinery.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/p...ining_text.htm

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

http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:...2+oil+& hl=en



Also have to think about electrical energy. Power companies didn't stop
building nuclear power plants because they wanted to limit the supply of
electricity. They stopped because it became cost prohibitive to go
through the permitting and construction process.

It is economics, but again, not just the permitting costs.

http://www.uic.com.au/nip08.htm